Daegu, South Korea celebrates chicken and beer during Chimac Festival

Photo By Master Sgt. Victor Gardner | A local vendor prepares sweet and spicy chicken with rice sticks for a patron tent at the 2015 Chimac Festival held at Duryu Park, Daegu Dalgubu, South Korea on July 22, 2015. Chimac is an annual event that celebrates the culture of the Daegu people with a focus on chicken and beer. (Photo by, Sgt. 1st Class Victor Gardner, American Forces Network Daegu, Korea)  

DAEGU, 27, SOUTH KOREA

07.23.2015

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Victor Gardner 

First Army Division West

DAEGU, South Korea - From July 22 to July 26, in the city of Daegu Dalgubu, South Korea, a celebration of sound, artistry and most importantly chicken and beer, takes place during the fifth annual Chimac Festival held at Duryu Park.

Chimac, loosely translated, means chicken and macjoo (beer). The combination of comfort foods and home cooking in the United States, have their own festival.

The event has grown in sponsor size as well as public interest. In 2014 more than 620,000 people participated in the festival. Sponsors of this year’s festival estimate the turn out will exceed one million participants over the five day period.

Vendors from local, national, and international chicken and beer industries erect stations at the park in hopes of enticing visitors to stop at their booths for samples. With the current restriction on poultry entering the country, U.S. service members come from all over the Korean peninsula to take part in the event. Not only are the U.S. troops excited about Chimac, but so are the people of Korea and some members of the Republic of Korea Army (ROK), Korean Augmentee to the U.S. Army (KATUSA).

CPL Choi, Chul Hyun, a KATUSA and member of the ROK Army stationed in Daegu, believes the Chimac Festival is a way to help U.S. troops get introduced to the Korean culture.

“I think Chimac will [help] build teamwork between the ROK side and U.S. side,” Choi said. “They can experience the Korean customs and culture and enjoy the culture with the music and South Korean pop stars.”

This was Choi’s first experience at Chimac. He said that if you are going to go to the festival you should expect to be entertained.

“It is a huge festival in Daegu,” Choi said. “When the [South Korean] ambassador and mayor come to the event along with Korean celebrities hanging around there, it could be an exciting event.”

Choi said the festival celebrates the young people of South Korea. Even though Chimac has been in existence for only five years the festival captures who the people of Daegu are and how exciting the city can be said Choi.

For more information on the festival, and events, go to Chimacfestival.com for details. The festivities happen once a summer so take advantage while you can.

• Date Taken: 07.23.2015
• Date Posted: 07.23.2015 02:49
• Story ID: 170834
• Location: DAEGU, 27, KR
• Hometown: DAEGU, 27, KR
• Hometown: WASHINGTON, DC, US