Kim Hyun-bin began his journalism career at Arirang TV from 2012 to 2017, specializing in defense, foreign affairs and the economy. In 2018, he joined The Korea Times, covering society and business, and is currently responsible for embassy affairs.
Daegu Chimac Festival to kick off July 17
Thousands of people take part in last year's Daegu Chimac Festival. Courtesy of Daegu Metropolitan Government, Korea CHIMAC Industry Association
By Kim Hyun-bin
By Kim Hyun-bin
The 7th Daegu Chimac Festival is set to kick off from July 17 through 21 in several areas around the city including Duryu Park, the Peace Market, Seobu Market and E World.
Chimac is a combination of the words “chicken” and “maekju,” the Korean word for beer, which is a very popular combination in Korea.
The festival will showcase 61 programs under five themes related to chicken and beer to entertain visitors. The opening hours will be from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., with the closing time extended by one hour compared to last year, so people coming after work in the cooler evening can enjoy the festival for a longer time.
According to Daegu Metropolitan Government and the Korea CHIMAC Industry Association, this year's festival will be more eco-friendly by reducing the use of plastic cups, which will be replaced by eco-friendly cups made from a material derived from corn.
To better attract visitors, a tour package will be available during the festivities, bringing visitors from Seoul Station to Dongdaegu Station on a KTX “chimac train.” This will give the opportunity for both foreigners and locals to see the beautiful southeastern city of Daegu during the day and attend the chimac festival in the evening.
There are scores of other events and programs ready to grab people's attention including a chimac eating contest, robot chefs cooking fried chicken, a mariachi performance and live performances by numerous artists.
“We have prepared numerous programs that will help the festival grow,” a city official said. “The festival will attract 1 million chimac fans from all over the country and we hope the festival will continue for the next 100 years.”