Daegu Chimac Festival celebrates a favorite culinary pairing

Over a million people are expected to gather in the southeastern city of Daegu to enjoy some fried chicken and beer starting Wednesday.

Foreigners enjoy fried chicken with beer at Duryu Park in Dalseo District of Daegu during the Daegu Chimac Festival last year. [DAEGU CHIMAC FESTIVAL ORGANIZING COMMITEE]

Over a million people are expected to gather in the southeastern city of Daegu to enjoy some fried chicken and beer starting Wednesday.

The Daegu Chimac Festival will be held at and near Duryu Park in Dalseo District of Daegu from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. this Wednesday through Sunday, according to the Daegu Chimac Festival’s organizing committee.

Chimaek is a Korean portmanteau combining chikin, or fried chicken, and maekju, or beer. The pairing has become wildly popular in recent years.

This marks the 11th year that the event will take place in the city, after resuming the festival last year following a two-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The festival’s main venue is Duryu Baseball Stadium in Duryu Park, which the city government transformed into a public space for citizens this year.

The baseball stadium, built in 1981, has been under renovation since June 2019 and completed its transformation into a public cultural and leisure complex this month.

The city government spent some 16.6 billion won ($125 million) to develop the area, planting lawns and building fountains and picnic zones.

The newly developed venue will be unveiled to the public for the first time on Wednesday when the festival begins.

Daegu is the birthplace of some of Korea's top fried chicken brands, including Kyochon, Mexicana and Hosigi Chicken.

Festivalgoers gather at the 2022 Daegu Chimac Festival at Duryu Baseball Stadium on July 6, 2022. [NEWS1]

Around one million people have participated in the festival every year.

This year, festivalgoers will experience over 80 chicken and beer brands, including Kyochon and Chimcking.

Beer brands such as Cass and Hanmac will have booths at the festival, offering their exclusive beers to customers.

Some 17 singers and DJs will help celebrate the event, too, including singers and rappers Jay Park, Hyolyn, Lee Young-ji and BewhY.

“We plan to run a festival program that both younger and older people can enjoy,” a spokesperson for the Daegu city government said.

BY CHO JUNG-WOO,BAEK KYUNG-SEO [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]