Experience Korean traditional medicine at the Daegu Yangnyeongsi Herbal Medicine Festival

Daegu is one of the major metropolitan cities of Korea. In addition to a thriving population and a myriad of modern conveniences, the city boasts mountains, temples, and an abundance of natural and historical sites. Though the city has many draws, it is primarily known for its textile and fashion industry and as a city of Oriental medicine and medical tourism.

One of the prime spots to experience Daegu’s rich medicinal culture is the Yangnyeongsi Market. Established in 1658, the market spans a 700-meter stretch along Namseong-ro Road in the Jung-gu district. Also known as ‘Yakjeon Golmok’ (‘alley of medicine stores’), the street is home to Oriental medical clinics, medicinal restaurants, and shops selling herbal remedies. Each year, the lively street becomes even more colorful with the opening of the Daegu Yangnyeongsi Herbal Medicine Festival.

The Daegu Yangnyeongsi Herbal Medicine Festival gets its roots from the original grand opening event that took place when the Yangnyeong Market first opened in the 17th century. The event was organized by local merchants who worked hard to create a festive mood to welcome visitors. It was a huge success and drew people from all over the nation to the market to buy and sell medicinal ingredients. The Yangnyeongsi opening officially turned into a modern-day festival in 1978 and has been held annually ever since.

In Korea, herbal medicine is not only used to cure illness, but is also used as a preventive measure, often in the form of tea. Tea ingredients can be anything that comes from nature such as medicinal plants, the roots of plants, their fruits, and bark. At the festival, visitors can learn the proper way to slice herbal medicine, sample teas or drinks made from various herbs, and get a taste of yakseon food (food made with herbal ingredients).

Recommended Programs

Hanbang (Oriental medicine) experience

Slicing of Medicinal Herbs

The ‘Slicing of Medicinal Herbs’ is a free program in which you’ll be able to learn how to cut medicinal herbs in the traditional way. Though it may look simple, cutting medicinal herbs takes strength and know-how!

Packaging of Medicinal Herbs

The free ‘Packaging of Medicinal Herbs’ program is an event in which you will learn how to make traditional herb packs using dried mandarin peel and white paper. The package can be taken home as a free souvenir and brewed to make tea.

Hanbang Foot Bath Experience 

Feeling tired after walking all day around the festival grounds? Then stop by the ‘Hanbang Foot Bath Experience’ in front of the Daegu Yangnyeongsi Museum of Oriental Medicine to soak your feet in a foot bath infused with medicinal herbs. The foot bath is free of charge, but is a popular event so you may need to wait in line.

Permanent exhibitions

Mystical Herb Tunnel

The Mystical Herbs Tunnel by the entrance of the festival grounds is a small tunnel leading into the venue that greets visitors with the aroma of medicinal herbs. Inside the tunnel hang photos of the Daegyu Yangnyeongsi Market and artfully placed herbal medicine pouches.

Medicinal Plant Park

As you walk around the festival grounds, you’ll find gardens of medicinal plants (‘medicinal plant parks’) interspersed throughout the whole area. The gardens/parks are planted with about 70 types of local medicinal plants like ginseng, milk vetch root, and peony.

Recommended Tourist Sites

Daegu Yangnyeongsi Museum of Oriental Medicine

The Daegu Yangnyeongsi Market has been a popular herbal medicine market ever since it first opened in the 17th century. In its heyday, the market drew crowds of people from as far as Japan and China! Discover the fascinating history of the Yangnyeongsi Market, the origin of Yakjeon Street, and fun facts about medicinal herbs with a visit to the ‘Daegu Yangnyeongsi Oriental Medicine Cultural Center.’ The center even has a section where visitors can get health check-ups.

Jeil Church

Located right in front of the Daegu Yangnyeongsi Oriental Medicine Cultural Center, Jeil Church is the institute that is credited with introducing the Protestant religion to the people of Daegu. The church was designated Daegu Tangible Cultural Asset No. 30 by the city of Daegu in 1991 in recognition of its architectural, religious, and cultural significance.

Gyesan Catholic Church

Located five minutes away on foot from Yangnyeongsi Market, Gyesan Catholic Church was built in 1899 before being remodeled into its present form in 1902. The first Western-style structure to be built in Daegu and the city’s first major Catholic presence, the church is also highly valued as the only building in the city to have been built in the early 20th century. In 1981, the church was designated Tangible Cultural Asset No. 290 by the national government.

Old residences of Lee Sang-hwa and of Seo Sang-don

In front of Gyesan Cathedral stands the old residence of Lee Sang-hwa (1901-1943), a poet who expressed resistance against Japan’s imperialism through his poetry. In the same area is the old residence of Seo Sang-don (1851-1913), a nationalist who took a leading role in the National Debt Repayment Movement to decrease national debt and gain independence from Japan. 

More info

Daegu Yangnyeongsi Herb Medicine Festival
☞ Period: April 15 - 19 (Wed – Sun), 2015
☞ Venue: Daegu-si, Jung-gu, Namseong-ro, Yangnyeong Market
☞ Webstie: herbfestival.org/kor/ (Korean only)
☞ Accommodations: hutour.daegu.go.kr/eng/sleep/hotel/list.asp
(Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
☞ Daegu Tourism Website: tour.daegu.go.kr/eng/ (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
Related column
Daegu a city packed with flavor!
☞ 1330 Korea Travel Hotline:+82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)

 

 

For more updates about Korea Tourism, Like/Follow these following Official SNS Accounts of Korea Tourism Organization both Korea and Manila Office.

Like KTO Manila on Facebook: Korea Tourism Organization Manila Office
Follow KTO Manila on Twitter: https://twitter.com/KTOManila
Plus Friend on KakaoTalk: @ktomanila

Like KTO on Facebook: Korea Tourism Organization
Follow KTO on Twitter: https://twitter.com/KoreanTravel
VisitKorea Website: http://www.visitkorea.or.kr

‪#‎KTO‬ ‪#‎Korea‬ ‪#‎KTOManila‬ ‪#‎WowKoreaSupporters‬

cezzsykoreanophile.blogspot.com