Daegu or Taegu (dĪˈgōˈ) [key], Jap. Taiku, city (1995 pop. 2,449,139), S South Korea, on the Sincheon and Geum rivers. An indepdendent metropolitan city, it is a transportation hub, a major industrial center, and a primary collection and distribution point for an extensive agricultural and mining region. Daegu has important textile and machine industries. The Nakdong River basin supplies raw materials for industry. During the Korean War the city formed a major bastion in the United Nations perimeter defense of the Busan beachhead, and in Aug., 1950, it became the temporary capital of Korea. Its name is also romanized as Taeku and Taikyu.
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2012, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.