Daegu Metropolitan City had pursued the construction of a national industrial complex since the 1990s, but plans were repeatedly abandoned due to environmental issues and other factors. As a result, it was the only city among 16 metropolitan cities and provinces without a national industrial complex, and its Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) ranked lowest nationwide for 28 years starting in 1992. Against this socioeconomic backdrop, Daegu persistently worked to build a national industrial complex with the goals of attracting new growth industries, revitalizing the local economy, and creating jobs. After thirty-six years in 2009, it was designated as a national industrial complex. Following the completion of Phase 1 in December 2016, the entire project is scheduled for completion in December 2026. As of the second quarter of 2025, 297 companies have moved in. By industry, there are 105 machinery companies, 95 transportation equipment companies, 45 electrical and electronics companies, and 52 non-manufacturing and other manufacturing companies operating in the complex.

In particular, the Daegu National Industrial Complex is home to numerous companies in promising new industries such as future mobility and robotics, which are growing steadily based on the complex. Leading companies include L&F, a secondary battery materials manufacturer; Guyoung Tech, an automotive parts specialist; Daedong Mobility, a provider of agricultural and non-agricultural mobility and smart mobility products; and KBWS, a specialist in automotive wipers.

Following its designation as a specialized complex for mobility materials, parts, and equipment in July 2023, Daegu Metropolitan City is advancing various national projects, including the full-scale construction of the National Robot Test Field.

Additionally, the Autonomous Manufacturing Robot Demonstration Project, led by Daegu Regional Headquarters of the Korea Industrial Complex Corporation and companies operating in the Daegu National Industrial Complex, successfully automated the electric vehicle battery housing process using industrial robots and autonomous robots, laying the groundwork to establish the complex as a leading hub for future manufacturing. Meanwhile, the Daegu Industrial Line will be newly built to improve accessibility between downtown Daegu and the complex located in the southwest of the city. The Daegu Industrial Line is a railway connecting Seodaegu Station and the Daegu National Industrial Complex and is scheduled to open with a total of 9 stations. Construction is slated to begin by the end of 2025, with completion expected in 2030.

The combined efforts of businesses and Daegu Metropolitan City culminated in the 2nd Daegu National Industrial Complex passing the Ministry of Economy and Finance's preliminary feasibility study on July 29, 2025. The approval marks the first such designation in sixteen years since the Daegu National Industrial Complex was established in 2009. Spanning 2.6 million ㎡ across Hwawon-eup and Okpo-eup in Dalseong-gun, the Daegu Second National Industrial Complex is a major national project with a budget of KRW 1.8 trillion. It will be developed as a future smart technology hub focused on AI-based future mobility and advanced robotics. Although it was the last among 16 metropolitan cities and provinces to be designated, the Daegu National Industrial Complex, a late bloomer showing remarkable growth through persistent efforts, is an industrial complex where tomorrow and the future ahead look more hopeful than today.