Aanchal Tekriwal, Godda, Jharkhand
According to the food columnist Hwang Young-cheol, Daegu is “a mecca for Korean-style fried chicken.” When the abiding divine taste of South Korea and its largest urban metropolitan city comes together, to crystalised utopia.
The remarkable outgrowing rapid growth of South Korea over the past decades has revolutionised the resources in metropolitan cities, and Daegu is no exception. The city embarks on a rich and unique culture and history, with a burgeoning strong emphasis on its prominent narrative sphere as a hub for Korean Fried Chicken. Located in the Southeastern part of the country, Daegu offers a destination for those looking to immerse themselves in the various facets of Korean cuisine. “Daegu’s old name is Dalgubeol and the old generation used to call it, ‘Dalgu,’ for short. Interestingly, the term is from an old local dialect that literally means chicken,” said Hwang Young-cheol during a phone interview with The Korea Times. Consequently, when you think of Korean Fried Chicken, Daegu’s musings will start fleeting in your mind.
Birthplace of Korean Fried Chicken
The history dates back to 1903 when Daegu was emerging as an extensive poultry market in Gyeongsang Province. As with the benefits of retaining vast flatlands, the southeastern city encompasses the suitable criteria for poultry farming around the 1970s. As a result, the city also raised and supplied around 70 to 80 per cent of poultry distribution all across the country. Around the same decade, “The Miracle of Han River” unfolded, resulting in the mass production of cooking oil that ultimately led to the upsurging of the entirety of Korean Fried Chicken vicinity in the nation. In 1978, the country’s first Korean Fried Chicken restaurant chain, Lims Kitchen, was opened in the Shinsegae Department Store’s headquarters in the Hyomok Market and is now famous as Mexican Chicken. The new era was just the beginning with the arrival of the nation’s most loved fried chicken.
Daegu Chimac Festival
Koreans love having fried chicken. To remind the tourists and the entire nation that Daegu is the abode of Korean Fried Chicken, the Daegu Chimac Festival has been hosted by the Korea Chimac Industry Association Corporation and managed by the Daegu Chimac Festival Organizing Committee every year since 2013. The word “Chimac” embodies two words, breaking as “Chi” for Chicken and “Mac” for Maekju (beer). The ecstatic summer event for 2023 was hosted at the Duryu Park in Daegu and celebrated with over a million visitors huddled for the nation’s undeniable adoration for the smashing food duo. The key highlight of the festival is “Chimac 99 Toast Time”, where grand toasts engulf the people raising their glasses to Chimac, “Chimac Ice Cafe Zone” for refreshing down the summer fierceness with a variety of ice beverages and “Chimac Busking” for immersing in the live street performances.
Picture Credits: VISITKOREA
Korean Divergent Essence in Korean Fried Chicken
A dish with arrays of diversity fortifies a feeling of never getting enough of its essence in any form. Korean Fried Chicken is also called KFC and Chikin by Koreans. Let us divulge the appealing taste of Korea with its different types.
Huraideu Chikin – Huraideu chikin (후라이드 치킨) or peuraideu chikin (프라이드 치킨) is just a phonetic pronunciation of Fried Chicken. These are the original plain chickens which emerged because of their distinctive as well as unique preparation. The chicken is double-fried to cook thoroughly at first and then set at a higher temperature for a striking tempestuous crunchy outer layer.
Yangnyeom Chicken – Seasoned Chicken with spicy, sweet, and savoury red sauce escorting an appetising flavour structured with the prominent outer crunchy side leading to the perfect balance.
Dakgangjeong Chikin– Primarily from the Gangwondo region, this unique dish features bone-in or boneless chicken dipped in a spicy sauce with a sticky glaze.
Picture Credits: VISITKOREA
Korean Fried Chicken going global with Daegu beneficiaries
With the rise in Hallyu, Korean Fried Chicken is not only engrossing across the country but also gaining popularity worldwide. Daegu is the birthplace of many Korean Fried Chicken franchise brands. Kyochon Chicken, one of the most popular franchises in Korea, is also thriving in the international marketplace with 67 restaurants in 15 foreign countries. Other franchises like Hosigi Dumari Chicken, Mexican Chicken, and Cheogajip Seasoned Chicken saw significant growth around the nation. The entirety of Daegu franchise restaurants is not only limited to Korean Fried Chicken but also is vividly a birthplace for many other delicacies of South Korea.
Picture Credits: @kyochon_official (Instagram)
Daegu, the third largest city in South Korea with notorious summers, is also known for its annual fried chicken festival and boasts several streets dedicated to fried chicken speciality shops. How a whole history and culture communicates with a certain dish is just so enriching and captivating to witness.
Have you tried Korean Fried Chicken yet? What do you think of its linkage with Daegu? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
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I want to visit daegu
Ooh. I so want yo visit Daegu and explore the food there. Buldak also originated from Daegu as well I think. Not sure though. But, I would love some Korean Fried Chicken for sure
I have always been a fan of Korean fried chicken and this article was a delicious read. I got to know so much about the history of Daegu and korean fried chicken.
I really want to visit Daegu… ..
Looking delicious 🤤….i wanna eat 🤤
Wow I loved the article ❤❤
✨️🤤
Sadly I don’t eat non – veg but it’s looking tempting 🥲🫠😂
Looks delicious 🤤
Amazing article tbh, interesting! I never know Daegu earlier known as Dalgu which literally means chicken, very unknown facts I get to learn.
Thanks for this article ^^
Pranjul Sharma
Delicious 😋
there are so many version of KFC… if you watch the YouTube channel :Korean Englishman… you’ll be amazed…
I came across the Daegu Chimac Festival and wondered if there was a connection between Korean Fried Chicken and Daegu. Until I researched and wrote this article, There was so much to learn about how a city can bring up so many histories we never know. The revolution we see today might be a smaller start from somewhere. Being a vegetarian, I won’t say I would try this. But I really had a great time writing this article.
It is one of my favourite korean food of all time😋
I would surely want to eat this chicken in india somewhere – Lavanya Sukumaran
I’ve tried Korean fried chicken and I loved it🤤❤ Thanks for sharing the history behind this delicious food and its connection to Daegu🙌
Woah! I expanded my knowledge about Korean Fried Chicken after reading this article! Thankyou for this tempting article! Now I crave for the fried chicken
Big fan of k food 💖💖💖
So good 👍🏻
I didn’t even know about daegu’s old name is dalgubeol thank you for the article ❤️
👌👏❤️😍
chicken lover😍😍😍
would love to visit soon…
Love itttt
I love fried chicken 😁
🤤🤤
Amazing article!!
When it comes to fried chicken, nothing will ever beat Korean Fried chicken
Fried chicke are my fav!!❤️
🥰🥰🥰
Delicious ❤️
Delicious
huge Fried Chicken lover is here.
chicken lover will surely love this article like me
This article perfectly captures Daegu’s rich history and cultural link to Korean Fried Chicken. From its origins in the 1970s poultry market to the vibrant Daegu Chimac Festival, it’s clear why Daegu is the mecca for this beloved dish. The various types like Huraideu Chikin, Yangnyeom Chicken, and Dakgangjeong Chikin highlight its delicious diversity. It’s fascinating how Daegu’s fried chicken culture has gone global with franchises like Kyochon Chicken.
Me and my sister have always been a fan of Korean fried chicken and this article was a love to read about the history..💞
I love korean Fried Chicken bottoms of my heart 💞💞💞
Looking delicious 🤤
Daegu’s history with fried chicken is incredible! Adding the Chimac Festival to my bucket list for sure.
I can’t wait to try Fried chicken and beer in South Korea this year….
Daegu Chimac Festival looks so fun…noiceee
This piece on Daegu made me want to hop on a plane just for the fried chicken 🍗 The idea that the region once supplied up to 70-80 % of Korea’s poultry is wild. The chance to try local specialties like dak-ttongjip (fried gizzards) next time I visit is super tempting. Definitely adding Daegu to my food-travel wish list.
This article genuinely made Daegu sound like the home base of Korean fried chicken. The history, the festival, the whole culture behind it — way more interesting than I expected. Now I get why people say Daegu does it differently. Definitely adding Chimac in Daegu to my travel list.
This article is very productive.the history ,festivals , tasty fried chicken. Definitely a worth adding in list.
I really want to visit Daegu someday and explore all the amazing food it has to offer! I’ve heard so much about the local specialties, and it feels like the perfect place to dive into authentic Korean flavors. Buldak, the spicy fire chicken, is also said to have originated from Daegu, which makes me even more curious to try it at its source. I can already imagine wandering through the streets, sampling different dishes, and soaking in the food culture firsthand,, it sounds like such an exciting culinary adventure
“I loved the breakdown of the different types of chicken! While Yangnyeom is a classic, I’ve always been curious about the specific history of Dakgangjeong. It’s amazing to see how a simple dish like fried chicken can have so many regional nuances and such a dedicated following. Great article!”