Taegu, city in southern South Korea, on a branch of the Naktong River. The third largest city of the republic and a road and rail hub, it is an agricultural market and trade center. Grain, tobacco, fruit, and cattle are raised in the surrounding area. Industries include the manufacture of machines and textiles, cotton ginning, silk spinning, food processing, and tanning.
Taegu is an educational center, the site of Kyongbuk National University (1946), Chonggu College (1952), Hyosong Women's College (1952), Taegu College (1954), Kyemyong University (1954) and Junior College (1962), the Taegu College of Education (1962), Taegu Junior College (1962), and the Chonggu Vocational Junior College (1962). Sometimes called Daegu or Taiku, it was known as Taikyu while under Japanese rule. Population (1995) 2,449,139.
