Daejeon’s 300 Billion Won Landmark: What to Expect from the New Diak Tourist Bridge?
Daniel Kim Views
◇Daegu City Council Construction and Transportation Committee Inspects DiARC Tourist Pedestrian Bridge Site
KRW 30 billion investment to establish a landmark; committee calls for stronger safety and quality controls and improved access
▲On April 24, officials visited the DiARC cultural-tourism revitalization construction site to review progress. Provided by Daegu City Council
Daegu — Reporter Son Jung-mo, Energy Economy News. The Daegu City Council’s Construction and Transportation Committee visited the DiARC cultural-tourism revitalization site and, after reviewing construction progress, urged tighter safety oversight.
During the 324th extraordinary session on April 24, the committee inspected the DiARC project site, assessed the status of work and called for rigorous management and supervision so the project proceeds without delay and attains its goal of becoming a signature tourist destination in Daegu.
The visit included briefings from project officials and a comprehensive review of on-site safety practices and measures to prevent environmental pollution within the construction zone.
The DiARC cultural-tourism revitalization project is a major undertaking with a budget of KRW 30 billion (about $22.5 million). It will construct a pedestrian tourist bridge 435 meters long and 4–6 meters wide (about 1,427 ft by 13–20 ft).
The bridge will include a café, an observation deck and a water-fall feature. Surrounding amenities will feature a multiuse plaza, picnic areas, DiARC Beach and a wildflower garden. The plan aims to transform the DiARC area into an integrated hub for ecology, culture and tourism.
The project is scheduled for completion in March 2028.
The main pedestrian bridge is designed as an arched structure evoking water skimming and a crane’s ascent, underscoring harmony with the natural environment. The bridge will offer observation and rest areas and night-time lighting to create inviting spaces for residents and visitors.
Committee members who toured the site emphasized minimizing disruptions to nearby residents during large-scale construction and stressed strict precautions to prevent accidents during high-elevation and waterside work.
They also urged project managers to safeguard the bridge’s distinctive design through robust quality control and to develop concrete measures to improve visitor accessibility.
Committee Chair Heo Si-young said, “The DiARC cultural-tourism project will leverage the unique confluence of the Geumho and Nakdong rivers to strengthen Daegu’s tourism competitiveness. Through strict quality and schedule management across the entire construction process, we must deliver a safe, well-built landmark that citizens will embrace.”
◇Cheongdo County Holds Gyeongbuk-Style Resident Evacuation Drill to Prepare for Heavy Rain
Simulation assumes river overflow; resident-focused 12-hour pre-evacuation system receives focused inspection
▲On April 23, Cheongdo County and Gyeongsangbuk-do jointly conducted a ‘Gyeongbuk-style resident evacuation drill’ along Cheongdocheon in Gosu-ri, Cheongdo-eup. Provided by Cheongdo County
Cheongdo — Reporter Son Jung-mo, Energy Economy News. On April 23, Cheongdo County and Gyeongsangbuk-do jointly held a Gyeongbuk-style resident evacuation drill in the Cheongdocheon area of Gosu-ri, Cheongdo-eup.
About 70 local residents and public officials participated in a roughly 40-minute exercise that simulated real emergency conditions.
The drill proceeded in a structured sequence: dissemination of weather alerts, village patrol reconnaissance, situation assessment meetings, issuance of pre-evacuation orders, evacuation broadcasts and support, and the actual evacuation of residents.
Officials concentrated on testing the 12-hour pre-evacuation system, which is triggered by risk indicators such as rapid hourly rainfall increases and rising river levels.
On site, village and street broadcasts and patrol guidance enabled rapid information dissemination. An integrated response involving police and fire services simulated full disaster-response operations, including traffic control, prioritizing evacuation for vulnerable groups and procedures for those who refuse to evacuate.
The exercise, part of Gyeongsangbuk-do’s resident evacuation training program, aims to shift from top-down administrative responses toward a resident-led evacuation model to minimize loss of life.
Acting County Governor Kim Dong-gi said, “This drill was significant because it tested a prevention-centered disaster management approach rather than reactive response. We will continue to run realistic exercises to protect residents’ lives and safety.”
◇Daegu Buk-gu Holds Mock Drill for Handling Difficult Citizen Complaints
Checks joint emergency response with police; strengthens capacity to handle verbal abuse and physical assault
▲On April 23, the district office’s general civil affairs office held a joint mock drill with the Northern Police Station’s Nowon precinct to simulate an unusual citizen-complaint incident. Provided by Daegu Buk-gu
Daegu — Reporter Son Jung-mo, Energy Economy News. On April 23, Daegu Buk-gu Office and the Nowon precinct of the Northern Police Station conducted a joint mock drill at the district’s general civil affairs office to simulate an unusual complaint incident.
The exercise aimed to protect civil servants from sudden incidents—such as verbal abuse and assault—and to evaluate emergency response procedures.
Organizers established role-based teams for on-site response, access control and rescue operations, and ran realistic scenario-based training.
Grounded in the Ministry of the Interior and Safety’s Public Official Complaint Response Manual, the drill tested step-by-step procedures: occurrence of verbal abuse or assault, complaint filing, documentation of obstruction and instructions to vacate, access restrictions, emergency bell activation and police dispatch, isolation of affected staff, restraint of the complainant and handover to police.
The drill emphasized rapid on-site response and scene control through seamless coordination with police to enhance practical response capabilities.
Buk-gu Mayor Bae Kwang-sik said, “With unusual complaint incidents on the rise, staff safety is paramount. We will use this drill to strengthen our emergency response system and ensure a safe working environment in civil service offices.”
◇Yeungnam College of Science & Technology and Medical School Share Results of Multidisciplinary Cooperative Education
Interprofessional education (IPE) with nursing and medical students draws attention; strengthens collaborative healthcare skills for the AI era
▲President Lee Jae-yong delivers congratulatory remarks. Provided by Yeungnam College of Science & Technology
Daegu — Reporter Son Jung-mo, Energy Economy News. On April 23 at Hotel Laonzena in Daegu, Yeungnam College of Science & Technology and Yeungnam University College of Medicine convened for the “Learn Together, Care Together: IPE Results Presentation” to share outcomes from a jointly run multidisciplinary education program.
The event, hosted by the College of Medicine and the Medical Education Innovation Project Group at Yeungnam University, reviewed an IPE (interprofessional education) program that brought medical and nursing students together, assessed its educational outcomes and explored the collaborative competencies required in clinical settings.
Yeungnam College used the presentation to reaffirm its commitment to inter-university cooperation and to share program examples and student experiences, presenting a practical cooperative-education model for training regional healthcare professionals.
The program opened with remarks from Associate Dean Lee Geun-mi of Yeungnam University College of Medicine, followed by greetings from Dean Won Gyu-jang and Dean Choi Eun-hee of Yeungnam College’s Nursing School. President Lee Jae-yong highlighted the importance of cross-professional collaboration and inter-university partnership in preparing for an AI-driven healthcare environment.
The Nursing School showcased how students transcended disciplinary boundaries through the IPE program, building mutual understanding and communication skills.
Professor Mo Moon-hee presented on IPE program operations and case studies, explaining how joint learning strengthened students’ patient-centered thinking and collaborative problem-solving abilities.
Nursing student Lee Yeon-seo shared her experience, conveying the value of interprofessional collaboration and integrated thinking in a way that resonated with attendees.
The event demonstrated that a cooperative education model linking medical and nursing training can go beyond technical knowledge transfer to cultivate responsibility and teamwork among future healthcare workers.
President Lee said, “This presentation confirmed the value of collaborative education where students learn and grow across disciplinary lines. We will continue to expand inter-university cooperation and practice-focused education to prepare professionals for AI-based healthcare.”
◇Daegu Health College Hosts Special Lecture to Strengthen AI-Based Teaching Skills
Focus on data-driven course design; plans DX·AX-linked online program
▲On April 23 in Room 506 of the main building, the Center for Teaching and Learning held the first special lecture on teaching methods for about 30 full-time faculty members. Provided by Daegu Health College
Daegu — Reporter Son Jung-mo, Energy Economy News. On April 23, the Center for Teaching and Learning at Daegu Health College held its first special lecture on teaching methods in Room 506 of the main building for roughly 30 full-time faculty members.
The lecture, part of the college’s vocational college innovation support project, aimed to enhance faculty capabilities in data use and course design in response to AI-driven changes in the education environment.
Titled “Data Collection, Analysis and Course Design Strategies for Faculty Leading the AI Era,” the session emphasized AI tools and practical use cases that faculty can apply immediately in health and medical education.
Kim Eun-ok, CEO of Probe Media, led the session and covered AI applications across education and research, including research report writing, data collection and analysis, image and presentation design, and effective use of academic literature.
Speakers also addressed key field concerns such as copyright and plagiarism related to AI-generated content.
The college will extend the one-time lecture into an online advanced course. Beginning April 27, it will offer a 10-session online program over approximately one month for full-time faculty to deepen DX·AX teaching competencies through hands-on practice in course planning and delivery.
Lee Yoon-hee, director of the Center for Teaching and Learning and a professor of dental hygiene, said, “This lecture emphasized building faculty capacity to design and run courses based on data rather than simply using tools. We will pursue continuous pedagogical innovation that yields measurable learning outcomes.”
◇Korea Credit Guarantee Fund and IBK Industrial Bank Sign Agreement to Provide KRW 500 Billion in Financing for Innovative Startups
Guarantee and interest-rate support backed by KRW 7.5 billion contribution; expanded support for deep-tech and glocal companies
▲Photo = Exterior of Korea Credit Guarantee Fund headquarters
Daegu — Reporter Son Jung-mo, Energy Economy News. On April 24, the Korea Credit Guarantee Fund (KODIT) announced it signed a financial support agreement with IBK Industrial Bank to promote growth among innovative startups and activate productive finance.
KODIT will apply a guarantee-fee discount of 0.5 percentage points for up to three years under the agreement, and IBK will offer loan-rate discounts of up to 1.5 percentage points to reduce startups’ financing costs.
Under the pact, IBK will contribute KRW 7.5 billion (about $5.6 million), and KODIT will use those funds to provide agreement-backed guarantees totaling KRW 500 billion (about $375 million) for deep-tech startups, glocal startups and companies in the Start-up NEST program.
A KODIT official said, “We expect this agreement to materially ease funding pressures for innovative startups. We will expand productive finance support through partnerships with related institutions so promising companies can achieve sustainable growth.”
KODIT operates a staged support program—’Little Penguin → First Penguin → Innovation Icon’—providing growth support across the entire startup lifecycle from discovery to scale-up.
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