Modern urbanization in Daegu originated in the colonial period. In this paper,
I chronologically reviewed how the traditional city of Daegu, which was surrounded
by fortress walls until the end of the Great Han Empire era, was
taken apart and redeveloped by the city during the colonial period, and also
examined the resultant changes to the urban landscape, as well as the creation
and development of a divided urban space. I summarize the main
points of this study as follows.
First, I traced the urbanization of Daegu from the end of Joseon to the
early Japanese colonial period. Second, I pointed out that the urbanization of
Daegu during the 1920s and 1930s was undertaken according to an urban
planning project, even while hierarchy among ethnic groups within Daegu
became more prominent and even structured. Finally, the Japanese-directed
modernization of Daegu relied considerably on Japanese interest, which influenced
the changes made to the landscape. This resulted in the thorough dismantling
and destruction of traditional spaces and buildings. At the same
time, differentiation among ethnic groups became greatly pronounced.