Vintage Photos Capture Street Scenes of Taegu in the Early 1970s

Daegu, formerly spelled Taegu, is a city in South Korea. It is the third-largest urban agglomeration in Korea after Seoul and Busan; the third-largest official metropolitan area in the nation; and the second-largest city after Busan in the Yeongnam region in southeastern Korean Peninsula.

Daegu is located in south-eastern Korea about 80 km (50 mi) from the seacoast, near the Geumho River and its mainstream, Nakdong River in Gyeongsang-do. The Daegu basin is the central plain of the Yeongnam region.

Daegu was an economic motor of Korea during the 1960s–1980s period and was especially known for its electronics industry. The humid subtropical climate of Daegu is ideal for producing high-quality apples, thus the nickname, “Apple City”. It is also known as “Textile City”. Textiles used to be the pillar industry of the city.

These photos were taken by DRC from May 1970 to June 1971 when he served in the United States Army stationed at Camp Walker in Tague.

Downtown Tague, 1970-71

Downtown Tague, 1970-71

Downtown Tague, 1970-71

Downtown Tague, 1970-71

Downtown Tague, 1970-71

Downtown Tague, 1970-71

Fruit vendor, Tague, 1970-71

Fruit vendor, Tague, 1970-71

Fruit vendor, Tague, 1970-71

Korean children playing, Tague, 1970-71

Korean old man, Tague, 1970-71

Movie theater, Tague, 1970-71

Peanut vendor, Tague, 1970-71

Pots and pans sold door to door, Tague, 1970-71

Restaurant and bar district in downtown Tague, 1970-71

Shoe shine boys, Tague, 1970-71

Sleeping Korean A-frame carrier, Tague, 1970-71

Steam locomotive at the Tague Station, Tague, 1970-71

Steam locomotive in the yard at the Tague Station, Tague, 1970-71

Toy store, Tague, 1970-71

Various vendors, Tague, 1970-71

Woman selling ceramic bowls, Tague, 1970-71