Daejeon.
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Overview

Daejeon (대전, 大田, formerly Taejon) is the capital of South Chungcheong province. Yuseong Hot Springs Resort and Daecheong Dam are amongst the city's most popular tourist attractions.

Understand

Daejeon is the 5th largest city in South Korea, with a population of approximately 1.44 million. It is in the centre of Korea and is at the crossroads of national rail and road transport routes, the Gyeongbu railway, Honam railway, Gyeongbu Expressway, and Honam Expressway.

The city has been promoted as a city of science and education centred about Daedeok Science Town, more lately called Daedeok Innopolis. The Daejeon municipal government dubs itself a core city of research and development and the cradle of Korea's cutting-edge science sector.

More than 200 research institutes, including the research and development facilities of Samsung, LG, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), are located within Daedeok Science Town in Yuseong-gu on the far outskirts of town, locally referred to as "Daedeok Techno Valley". This, plus the "Daedeok Innopolis" cluster of KAIST, Chungnam National University and government research institutes lend themselves to the city's local nickname: the Silicon Valley of Korea.

The local image is generally good enough to rank fourth after Seoul, Busan, and Jeju in 2019, first in quality of life, health, environment, transportation, and administrative capacity index in 2021 and second after Seoul in the comprehensive sector.

It is also a city with a very well-established local autonomy system. As a result,the World Federation of Local Governments meeting was held in October 2022. More than 1,000 local and local government councils from 140 countries participated as members.

Daejeon has a monsoon-influenced, 4 season climate that lies within the transition between the humid continental and humid subtropical climatic regimes (Köppen Dwa/Cwa respectively). Monthly mean temperatures range from −1.9 °C (28.6 °F) in January to 25.5 °C (77.9 °F) in August.

Daejeon is 167.3 km from Seoul, 201 km from Busan and 169 km from Gwangju. It is also close to the proposed site of a new administrative city, Sejong City.

Daejeon is separated into 5 administrative divisions or gu (구), (districts), all of which maintain their own tourist website in English. The divisions are largely run along rivers bisecting the city.

Daedeok-gu (대덕구; 大德區) Dong-gu (동구; 東區) Jung-gu (중구; 中區) Seo-gu (서구; 西區) Yuseong-gu (유성구; 儒城區) Dunsan is not a gu, but is the central business district and where you will find the majority of the shops and restaurants. The area is served by three stops on the subway: City Hall, Government Complex and Galma stops 111, 112, 113 respectively. For more upscale shopping and accommodation, head over to the Yuseong hot springs resort town (Yuseong-gu), which is the northwest part of the city, and is serviced by the Yuseong-spa subway stop. The former city centre is located in Jung-gu and serviced by the Jungangno subway stop.

Gyeryongsan National Park straddles the city border to the west. Three streams which eventually join with Geum River, called Gapcheon (갑천), Yudeungcheon (유등천), and Daejeoncheon (대전천), flow through the city from south to north.

To pick up a map you can visit the information desk in EXPO Park or in Daejeon Station. For district tourism offices please see

Daejeon Tourist Information Center. Information is provided by interpreters in English. Japanese or Chinese. For tourist information dial 1330 (with no prefix number) from within Daejeon

Daejeon Railway Station Information Service.

Express Bus Terminal tourism information.

Daejeon International Community Center (DICC). English-speaking staff provide visitor information and support.

Get in

Daejeon is a road and rail transportation hub in South Korea. Two major expressways, Gyeongbu Expressway and Honam Expressway, and two major railways, Gyeongbu railway and Honam railway, are joined here. Travel time between Daejeon and Seoul using the high-speed railway system, otherwise known as KTX, is about 1 hr. The nearest airport to Daejeon is Cheongju Airport in the neighbouring city Cheongju and at least 30 min by road to the north of Daejeon.

The local airport provides a few options for international travelers, with Cheongju International Airport (Hangul: 청주국제공항; Hanja: 淸州國際空港) just north of Cheongju city. There is a railway station next to the airport, called Cheongju Airport station, which is on the Chungbuk Line although it is 600 m from the airport. The usual way to reach Daejeon from the airport is via intercity bus.

Nevertheless, most travelers will arrive in South Korea via Incheon International Airport and get to Daejeon via the plentiful high speed train or bus services.

Parking for 1,100 vehicles is available opposite the passenger terminal. The facility is open from 06:30-22:00.Cheongju International airport has a very limited schedule, with flights from Jeju for a few times a day.

Buses to Daejeon Dongbu Terminal, Cheongju Airport ↔ Daejeon Dongbu Terminal - ₩3,500

Daejeon lies on the main train line connecting Seoul and Busan. There are two principal train stations in Daejeon, the main Daejeon Station and the secondary Seo-Daejeon Station. Both are served by the KTX, the Korean high speed bullet train rail service. It takes about 1 hr from Seoul to Daejeon (₩23,700; Economy Class; Feb 2019) and it takes approximately 1 hour and 29 minutes to travel from Daejeon to Busan by KTX.

As an example at the other end of the spectrum an unreserved "deluxe floor" seat on the Mugunghwa from Seoul will set you back less than ₩9,000 and take almost 2 hr. If these sound unreasonable, bear in mind that trains down the main line in Korea do sell out, especially on Sunday afternoons and into the late night so you may have no say in the matter. On the bright side, the last Mugwanhwa from Busan terminates at Daejeon, so if stuck on its cold, cold floor, you can usually upgrade yourself (to 1st class even) after Daegu.

There are several railway stations. The station you will arrive at or leave from depends on where you're coming from or where you're going. If using the KTX Gyeongbu Line or the KTX Honam Line you may want to try to get off at Shintanjin Station to the north of the city or Seodaejeon Station to the southwest if using the KTX Honam Line.

Arriving on the North-bound Line—intermediate points are Cheonan·Asan ⇒ Gwangmyeong ⇒ Yongsan ⇒ Seoul (northern terminus) Arriving on the South-bound Line—intermediate points are Dong-Daegu ⇒ Miryang ⇒ Gupo ⇒ Busan (southern terminus)

Arriving on the North-bound Line—intermediate points are Cheonan·Asan ⇒ Gwangmyeong ⇒ Yongsan ⇒ Seoul (northern terminus) Arriving on the South-bound Line—intermediate points are Nonsan ⇒ Iksan ⇒ Gimjae ⇒ Jeongeup ⇒ Gwangju ⇒ Naju ⇒ Mokpo (southern terminus)

Tickets for Korail (Korea National Railroad) services can be purchased at station windows, travel agencies, or online.

To add to the confusion, if entering via bus, there are three intercity bus terminals, and several pick up stops for the airport bus express.

Dongbu inter-city bus terminal connects to major cities in South and North Chungcheong province. Dong-bu express bus terminal connects to most major cities in South Korea via express way. They are share a building in Yongjeon-dong, Dong-gu. Seobu bus terminal in Yucheong-dong, Seo-gu, connects to western regions of South Chungcheong province such as Nonsan, Buyeo, and Daecheon. Yuseong bus terminal located in Bongmyeong-dong, Yuseong-gu, connects to northern regions of South Chungcheong province such as Gongju, Yesan, Dangjin, and Cheonan.

There are two bus stop around government complex, some of express buses depart from Dong-bu and Yuseong stop by as well as the bus destined for Incheon airport (the ride takes 3 hr 15 min).

Incoming buses terminating at Dong-bu terminal drop all passengers off at a random one of a few petrol stations or empty carparks near the terminal. Don't be alarmed. Whilst inconvenient for those transferring on, this does leave you on the right side of the road to grab the local express bus #2 down to the central Korail/subway station.

Get around

Locals and those staying for a longer time can purchase a Hana bank rechargeable transportation card, which offers free transfers. When you open an account at Hana bank, this smart bank card can be charged with money to be used on buses, taxis. "Hankkumi" transportation cards are also available at manned booths within the subway stops. Its one subway line bisects the city and runs south-east from the north-west corner. Only central Daejeon, old downtown (Daejeon station area) and a handful of sites are convenient to reach solely by subway. The subway is compatible with Seoul T-money passes. Hankkumi cards or tags contain both Hankkumi and Seoul T-money functionality.

The inner-city bus service is extensive, but a bit slow. Most buses pass through Daejeon station which does not have a bus rank. Instead, they all leave from one of about 10 stops dotted around the area. Note that bus routes 1 and 2 are express stops and annoyingly not even typically marked on the handful of bus shelters where they do stop. City bus services in Daejeon buses are divided into four types.

Each type of bus has a different colour; red, blue and green (2).

Red buses express cover 2 routes (1 and 2). They stop at major bus stops, ensuring a rapid transit service. Blue buses regular connect the downtown areas with the suburbs. Green buses there are 2 types of green - coloured buses: One of the green buses connects all districts within Daejeon, and the other connects Daejeon with its neighboring areas.

Children, middle and high school students, and adults. A Traffic card is available and offers discounts and free transfer. T-money also works for discounts and free transfers,

Each bus has two doors: The front door for entry and back door for exit. Place your transit card close to the card reader upon entry and exit.

Cash payment is no longer available.

Expo Park - 121, 301, 606, 705, 911, 918 Daejeon O-world - 301, 115, 311, 314, 318, 315 Bomun-san (Mt.) - 119, 619, 618, 108, 313, 620 Gyejok-san (Mt.) - 103, 617, 311, 314 Daecheong Dam - 72, 73 Gubong-san (Mt.) - 210, 114, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 Jangtae-san (Mt.) - 22 Sikjang-san (Mt.) - 611, 619, 607, 313, 60, 61, 62, 63, 71 Manin-san (Mt.) - 501 Uam Historial Park - 311 Jangsu Town - 312, 313 Donghak-sa (Temple) - 107, 48 Daejeon Korail Station - 1, 30, 31, 52, 60, 62, 63, 102, 311, 501, 511, 512, 603, 605, 606, 607, 612, 616 Seodaejeon Korail Station - 119, 201, 202, 314, 612, 613, 701 Shintanjin Korail Station - 2, 71, 72, 75, 703, 704, 705 Dongbu Intercity and Express Bus Terminal - 2, 102, 105, 106, 201, 501, 601, 602, 607, 611, 616, 701, 802 Seobu Intercity Bus Terminal - 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 31, 32, 34, 41, 42, 43, 45, 46, 47, 113, 316, 916 Yuseong Intercity Bus Terminal - 109, 911

A full bus route map is printed on practically every last bus shelter in town. Navigation may be easier if used in combination with a pocket-sized printed copy of the numerical list above.

Two city tour buses also run, doing daytime trips between "science" sites such as the Currency Museum, Expo park and KAIST. Night time trips between "night" sites include Yuseong Spa and Daecheong Dam. They wind across town via various pick-up spots prior to the tour and tend to end at Yuseong, but perhaps the most convenient pick-up point is at the park at the rear (south side) of City Hall.

The traffic card allows 3 free transfers within 80 min of the first boarding, with 30 min transit time subsequent to the passenger placing the card on the card reader when exiting. Another service will need to be boarded and the card read again within the specified 30 min (off the bus) period.

Daejeon's first subway line opened in 2006, connecting Daejeon Station to both the western and eastern parts of the city. The subway is extremely clean and tidy, and the stations are regularly decorated with art courtesy of local university arts students or schoolchildren. Small musical performances aimed at the older generations of Koreans (often some quite pleasant jazz) are sometimes held in Daejeon and Seodaejeon-negori stations.

Daejeon Subway Line 1 is the first of a planned 5-line subway system for the city. It connects Daejeon station in the original city centre, with the newer sections of this city, including Dunsan. The other lines have not yet opened and future plans for the extra lines appear to remain speculative.

For a cross-town trip, expect to spend up to ₩10,000, far higher if travelling to the lesser developed outer regions west of the bisecting mountain range, north of Yuseong, or around Shintanjin. The width of town can be covered usually in ₩4,000-5,000. Daejeon experiences near city-wide gridlock from 17:00 to almost 00:00 on Fridays and 17:00 to 19:00 on weekdays so use the subway to cross the length of the city and catch a taxi from there to cover the width. Unregistered taxis are a common sight around the Dongbu bus terminal, so keep a keen lookout for the "It's Daejeon" logo on the side of the vehicle or a meter in the front if you don't wish to be mislead or deceived by unlicensed operators in un-metered vehicles.

Daejeon has a system of public-use bikes Tashu, which is available for a nominal fee for short rentals, although it can rise quickly for extended use (>1 hr as of July 2014). Note that stations are present mostly in the central valley, and may be empty or filled (thus preventing returns). Check for stations near your destination via the station's computer before renting a bike. Although bikes are maintained, they are quite often broken, so be sure to check the bike before renting. Bicycle roads exist in larger roads and riversides but tend to be filled with pedestrians and tend not to yield to cyclists.

Daejeon is mostly far too spread out to be convenient to walk between attractions. However, Expo Park, the National Science Museum, Hanbat Arboretum, Dajeon Museum of Art, Mannyeon-dong, and even Dunsan-dong (although this last one is pushing it) are situated close enough to one another to wander back and forth.

See

There are 8 sites designated by the city government as scenic attractions, these are the Eight Sights of Daejeon.

Sikjangsan Mountain Forest. Open all year round, no parking facilities. The site provides extensive walking trails and temple visits.

Mount Bomunsan. Observatory, recreation facilities, and cable cars. Also 20 springs, one every 20 m and each supplies drinkable water. 10 trail routes are available including the Sirubong, Mupilbon, and Sansunggil trails. Important historical sites are located on the top of the mountain. Open year round. A few access ways are available, but the most popular one is via Bomunsan Park Jct.

Mount Gubongsan. Open all year round, no parking facilities. This mountain has 9 peaks and walking trails.

Mount Jangtaesan. Accommodation, fish farm, deer farms, a children’s playground within man-made forests and natural forests. 12 km trails, a sky tower, small gorges, rest and picnic areas. Children are provided with playgrounds and there are exercise facilities throughout the park.

Yuseong Spa. Wounded soldiers of the Baekje Dynasty are said to have been healed after taking a bath in these springs. Kings and presidents including the first King of the Josun Dynasty, have reposed here.

Expo Park. Commemorate the Deajeon Expo held in 1993 and committed to understanding the role of science and technology. Closed every Monday. Entrance ₩2,500 per person. Parking for 100 cars, small ₩1,500-large ₩2,000. Image simulation hall, dome image hall, energy hall, electric energy hall, and science hall science/exhibition, science academy, robot class, handicraft class, body world, dinosaur festival, unification hall, Hanbit tower, scientist street, Aqua resort, Magic plaza, Gabcheon River, restaurant street, dining hall and tourist information centre. During the 1993 Deajeon Expo, a total ₩180 billion was invested. 108 countries participated and 14 million visitors attended.

Daecheong Lake. Information office is at 618-316, Daecheong-ro, Daedeok-gu, Daejeon Metropolitan City (left bank of Daecheong Dam). The lake was formed in 1980 when the Deacheon Dam was completed. This lake provides Deajeon City and Cheongju City with drinking water. Open year round. No parking facilities.

Mount Gyejoksan. Bike and walking trails. Site of the Yongwal thermal power plant, and Gyejok Mountain Fortress. Open year round. No parking facilities.

Many of the other cultural centres and sight seeing places are located in Yuseong-gu district with the exception of Ppuri park and Daejeon Zoo.

Daecheong Dam. Large dam on the far north east outskirts of town. Responsible for the Daecheonghosu lake, South Korea's largest.

The Daejeon Museum of Art. An art museum established in 1998 and focused on the convergence of art and technology. Numerous exhibitions on contemporary art have been held here.

Daejeon Philharmonic Orchestra. Performs in Daejeon Culture and Arts Center and other local venues. It has undertaken several international tours, including visits to the United States and Japan.

Daejeon Station. A walk around the alleyways straight across from the station will offer Ginseng (인삼 insam) and traditional medicine stores. Across the street from the market, see the Buy section of this article.

National Cemetery. National cemetery for Korea's war heroes and patriots. It's quite beautifully landscaped and surrounded by a ring walking trail. Dress standards apply.

Hanbat Arboretum. If coming by taxi, be sure to use the Korean name.

Dunsan Prehistoric Settlement Site. When excavating for Dunsan new town in the early 1990s, a bunch of "stone-age" relics were discovered. Prior to the discovery, it was widely believed the region had a rather recent history. At a glance, the site is essentially a very hilly grassy park with scattered reproduction 'prehistoric huts' built over it. However the site provides extensive historical information for visitors. It is open at night and the inside of the huts light up as you approach showing off an interpretation of what was discovered, complete with reproductions of the various farming and domestic tools unearthed.

Ppuri Park. A family-oriented park on the far southern outskirts of town. Down by a smallish dam, there are the usual swan boats and the like, but the odd drawcard is the hill covered in stone statues representing local family lineages. Local Koreans no doubt have a great time pouring over these, tracing their roots (ppuri), but to the casual observer it's just a curious, if unusual, collection of modern art. A path also leads over a bridge and to the top of the cliff directly to the south where not only is there a pleasant view, but the peak is also littered with a bizarre array of wooden phalli.

Sungsimdang. It is a famous bakery that ranks first in sales among non-franchise bakery nationwide. It is one of the most famous places in Daejeon and is the most famous among the three major bakeries in the country. It is considered one of the representatives and best practices of local self-employed businesses, with six restaurants in Eunhaeng-dong dramatically revived after losing competition with the large franchise bakery industry.

Daejeon Expo Aquarium. It is a complex cultural space where you can enjoy various sea creatures and contents through media art as well as living creatures.

Daejeon Aquarium. It is the first and largest freshwater fish aquarium in Korea, where you can see various freshwater fish from other countries and decorated fish by theme.

Daejeon Modern History Exhibition Hall. Along with viewing the building, you can see many events in modern and contemporary history of Daejeon and special exhibitions in various fields such as history, architecture, urban planning, design, and popular culture.

Daejeon Citizen. The city's K-league soccer team. Daejeon, being a co-host of the 2002 FIFA World Cup, has a soccer stadium in Yuseong-gu on the north side of town (월드컵경기장 World cup kyeonggijang), quite literally and unbelievably plonked in the middle of a farm and now rather rusty in appearance. It's serviced by a dedicated subway station (listen for the old Korean World Cup theme song announcing the stop), although you'd have to walk through the Nouen Wholesale Market and adjacent Wholesale Fish Market to get there.

Hanwha Eagles. The city's professional baseball team. Baseball games are held at the baseball field of Hanbat Sports Complex ex (한밭 운동장 Hanbat undongjang). Express bus #2 passes by it, or it can be walked within 15-20 min from Jungangno station. Various teams play including the local professional team and those of the local universities sometimes on Friday nights. Despite tickets being rather inexpensive, many locals choose to climb up nearby Mt. Bomun to the conspicuously-placed observatory and watch down with binoculars.

Euneungjeongi Cultural Street. Euneungjeongi Cultural Street is known for its vibrant LED media facade and various cultural performances.

Do

Yuseong Hot Springs Resort. These hot springs are known to be effective in countering many kinds of maladies. Containing alkaline minerals such as calcium, and potassium, sulfur, carbonic acid, silicic acid and radium and are considered to be beneficial in treating neuralgia and geriatric diseases. Accommodation is available nearby.

Daejeon Observatory. Here you can observe the sun during the day or any number of celestial bodies at night. Located west of Expo Park, take the 604 bus to the observatory stop.

National Science Museum. Showcases both permanent and special exhibitions.

Daejeon Currency Museum. Historical currencies of Korea up to the modern day, including those of the DPRK (North Korea).

Daejeon Museum of Art. Daejeon's primary art facility, nestled between the Government Complex Daejeon, Hanbat Arboretum and the small Mannyeong-dong restaurant district. Has a spacious park filled with modern art sculptures out the front. A small stage out the front sometimes hosts free cultural performances on weekends.

Daejeon Art Center. Small art gallery in old downtown showcasing modern art works of young artists. The exhibits rotate every 1-2 months exhibiting to an often unusual theme, individual pieces regularly are quite involved, taking up an entire room.

Donghak-sa Temple. A picturesque temple outside of Daejeon in the adjacent city of Gongju, but linked in on the Daejeon bus routes. In addition to the temple, the valley contains restaurants, hotels and saunas (including a fair few of the funky "hobbit mushroom" styled ones) and a fairly dramatic waterfall, albeit dry much of the year. This all falls within Gyeryongsan National Park. A well stocked tourist information booth exists at the entrance and is an ideal starting point for a hiking trip over the region. Restaurants in the area tend to be well catered towards foreign (primarily Japanese) tourists with picture menus of the most popular items: a rarity in central South Korea. To get in, the 107 bus will take you from Daejeon Korail station direct, although it is much faster to take the subway to the National Cemetery station, and hop on the 107 there as it prepares to zip out of town. The bus stop is right next to the subway exit.

Uam Historical Park. Historic scholarly site nestled in a mountain valley. Has a well kept lake and quite nice to stroll around. Hosts a (poorly gazetted) festival sometime in October. For hikers, the trail hidden at the rear-left of the park continues up the mountain, past a place to fill your water bottles and after a less than 30 min walk, all the way to the top of the ridge overlooking the immense Daecheong lake east of town.

Yuseong Foot Spa. A heated foot spa. The temperature is pretty high but varies along the length so it's appropriate even in winter, and you won't overheat in summer. Unlike most foot spas, the local populace demands pre-washing of feet at the wash-station at the end of the foot spa prior to entering (akin to the etiquette of a full body public bathhouse). Drop your stuff where you intend to sit, then walk down the end, wash up, and walk down the spa to get back to your seat. It can be an embarrassingly fulfilling sight seeing the elderly locals accosting Korean visitors from elsewhere in Korea unaware of this unstated rule. To get there, leave the subway station and head towards the main Yuseong junction to the north. Turn east and follow the wide grassy median strip about 500 m down the road.

O-World. A theme park, on the far, far south end of the city. Comprises Zooland (zoo boasting 130 species), Flower Land (flower park boasting 190 species) and Joyland (a regular ol' theme park).

The Dreamland theme park up on Mt. Bomun, despite being marked on many maps, has-been closed and demolished.

The river flood plain adjacent to Expo Park is where a lot of expatriate action takes place on the weekends outside of the festival, and also makes for a nice stroll.

Whilst Dunsan downtown tends to cater to the retail-loving crowd, the downtown area in central Daejeon (Jungangno subway station) and particularly the area a few blocks south tends to be rather artsy, including many small, often privately run art galleries. Some of these are attached to independent coffee shops. Occasionally on Sundays there are street stalls run by local arts students.

Namsun Park Comprehensive Sports Center. It operates the only ice rink and wave pool in Daejeon, and is a comprehensive leisure sports center where you can enjoy various sports such as golf, squash, and futsal.

Daedong Sky Park. It consists of Daedong Mural Village, Daedong Street Art Museum, Baegolsan Love Rock, Daedong Haneul Park Windmill, and Haneul Park Cafe.

Festivals Daejeon has a history of attempting to jumpstart annual festivals (a Winter lights festival in Jungangno for example) only to have them fall on their face after one year. Signs still promote some of these on the outskirts of town.

Daejeon Balloon Festival. Once a year around October, this is not the international balloon festival you are likely thinking of. The 2010 edition of this annual event only had two hot-air balloons, both tethered tightly to the ground. However, as the sun sets, they let off an amazingly large quantity of small disposable lantern balloons that float off in the south-westerly breeze of the neon Smart Towers housing complex and into the mountains. Both Daejeon city and the DICC have a tendency to try to book in other festivals at the same time as this nearby to attract more out-of-town visitors, so keep an eye on local schedules.

Cherry Blossom Festival. In Shintanjin, in April (spring) when the flowers happen to be in full bloom.

Daejeon International Bread Festival. The Daejeon International Bread Festival is one of the city's signature annual events, celebrating Daejeon's status as the 'City of Bread' and a culinary hub for bakery arts. Held annually, the festival gathers famous local establishments—like Sung Sim Dang—and leading national bakeries, offering a massive variety of specialty breads and pastries. This vibrant event is a must-visit for food lovers, featuring tastings, baking demonstrations, and contests that highlight Korea's modern baking culture.

Daejeon International Wine Festival. The Daejeon International Wine Festival is a major annual event that attracts global attention, positioning Daejeon as a central city for the international wine industry in Korea. The festival offers a vast array of global wines for tasting and purchase, alongside food pairings, educational seminars, and wine-related cultural programs. Held in conjunction with the Asia Wine Trophy competition, it is highly recommended for wine enthusiasts seeking to explore diverse vintages and enjoy a sophisticated cultural event.

Any, or all, of 5 mountains designated by Daejeon tourism amongst the city's eight most popular sites:

Mt. Sikjangsan (southeast) Mt. Bomunsan (south) Mt. Gubongsan (southwest) Mt. Jangtaensan (south) Mt. Gyejoksan (northeast)

Most have either a typical Korean gazebo at the top or a historic fortress wall, or often both. Jangtaesan has a treetop walkway. Springs offering drinking water are marked on the local maps. To find the start of the myriad hiking trails, a good rule of thumb is to look for burial mounds on the hills, as they are often lurking just behind them. Once on the trail, trail marking and intersection signposting is really good, but the actual start point locations are almost never announced.

Sports Watch baseball, the national sport, at Daejeon Hanwha Life Ball Park (Hanwha Eagles) or football at Daejeon World Cup Stadium (Daejeon Citizen FC).

Watch volleyball at Daejeon chungmu Stadium (Samsung Bluefangs Club)

Buy

The city's traditional market is located next to the train station. The market by Daejeon Station is the general market, really nothing to write home about as far as appearances, the speciality stores are excellent, and you can get plants (from seeds to pots) which are not always easy to come by. Some household goods, and cheap clothes. The street to the southeast, outside the market perimeter, specialises in tools. Exit Daejeon Station through exit #3 and go straight for less than a minute. It's a very small shop that's located right in front of the traffic lights.

A second, slightly smaller traditional market exists in Yuseong. Further traditional markets still can also be found near Seodaejeon Korail station, opposite Hanbat stadium, and a little further east of the Dongbu Intercity bus terminal.

For further discounts, Nouen wholesale market is located north of Yuseong. Take the subway line and get off at the World Cup Stadium stop (the subway plays a little soccer theme song so you can't miss it).

There's a Costco directly beside Seodaejeon station. Costco offers OK discounted prices, and most everything is in bulk, but you can get some hard to find goods imported from the USA. You will need a personal (Gold Star) membership for ₩35,000, or you can use your card from home. It can solve dry food purchasing for a month or more in a single trip; watch out for seasonal specials, the November truffles make for nice, and cheap, gifts. For those without CostTo membership, E-mart Traders offers similar services with no membership requirements (not to be confused with E-mart proper). The Seodaejeon area also has the stock standard Home Plus, as well as some clothing department stores. The area is becoming rapidly one of the most affluent in the city so expect to see fancier outlets opening here over time. Uniqlo (Japanese unbranded clothing chain) is also located nearby on the basement floor of the Say Two Department Store (good to know in winter as it sells cheap thermals). The Lotte Department Store in Yongmun-dong has a Uniqlo as well (2nd floor).

E-Mart and Home Plus is relatively ubiquitous, and a bit dear too. It does, however, offer a variety of basic house goods for settling into a new home, deodorant, as well as basic general produce (both fresh and dry), which are marginally cheaper than the prices in most corner stores, as well as offering it all in one stop. If you can't afford to set up your new home here, perhaps try tracking down a Daiso, a Japanese "1,000-won store" chain that stocks all sorts of kitchenware and just general use plastic items.

For cool summer shopping and warm winter shopping head underground. Underground shopping can be found connected to subway stops at Daejeon Station and Jungang-no, stops 104 & 105 respectively, on line 1.

If looking for general Korea souvenir-items, two shops, quite literally opposite one another are underground at subway Exit 2 of Daejeon station (stop 104 on Line 1). They specialise in a wide variety of trinkets including from mass-produced items from elsewhere in the country.

Also, department store shopping is popular for the more affluent of Daejeon at Timeworld Galleria, Lotte Department Store and CGV; each of which also have a movie theatre on their top floor. The basement sells a wide variety of imported foods.

Most electronic needs can be found at TechnoWorld, which is close to KBS tower in Manneyong-dong, Seo-gu. For further consumer electronics, try the street running between Government Complex Daejeon subway station to Timeworld Galleria in the vicinity of Dunsan E-Mart: this street has no fewer than 3 electronics department stores Hi-mart, Jeonja Land plus smaller speciality stores LGgoodshop. Apple has a retailer called Frisbee outside Jungangno subway station, Jung-gu.

For funky independent-made items, keep an eye out for university-run arts fairs. There's no real way to know when you'll find one, but they are seemingly quite common.

Shinsegae Department store Daejeon Branch. A major luxury department store in Daejeon offering premium brands, dining, and entertainment facilities.

Galleria Department Store Timeworld. A flagship department store in Daejeon known for luxury brands, trendy fashion, and a wide range of dining options.

Lotte Department Store Daejeon Branch. A major department store in Daejeon offering popular fashion brands, dining options, and convenient shopping facilities, including the famous bakery Sung Sim Dang on the first floor.

Homeplus Yuseong Branch. A large hypermarket in Yuseong offering groceries, household goods, clothing, and casual dining options in one convenient location.

Emart Dunsan Branch. A major Emart branch in Dunsan offering groceries, home goods, electronics, and daily necessities in a large, convenient shopping space.

Costco Korea Daejeon. A large membership-based warehouse store in Daejeon offering bulk groceries, household goods, electronics, and imported items at competitive prices.

Jungang Market. A large traditional market in Daejeon offering fresh produce, street food, clothing, and a lively local shopping experience.

Daejeon Station Underground Shopping Center. An underground shopping arcade connected to Daejeon Station, featuring clothing shops, cosmetics, accessories, and affordable eateries.

Nobrand Daejeon Jungchon Branch. A budget-friendly retail store offering groceries, snacks, and daily essentials at low prices in the Jungchon area of Daejeon.

Mono Mart Daejeon Branch. A large global food ingredients market offering imported products, bulk items, and diverse international groceries.

Eat

In addition to the copious amounts of Korean restaurants and Koreanized "Japanese" izakayas scattered all over town, some foreign restaurants, including some offering Italian cuisine, can be found around the two main downtown districts of Dunsan-dong (opposite Timeworld) and near Jungangno station. Some nicer restaurants also still exist up near the World Cup Stadium.

Oddball theme restaurants are scattered around town. For example, there are a couple of eateries in Dong-gu near the Intercity bus terminal subscribing to the "hobbit mushroom" school of architecture, a restaurant called literally Nameless (이름없음, Ireumeopseum) in front of Woosong university whose decor could be best described as "clusterbomb of ropes", and a full military themed chicken joint on the wrong side of the tracks in Shintanjin (follow the road/lane due south from the Loving Hut listed below).

Sit-down sushi roll restaurants (as opposed to sushi trains) are scattered about Jungangno and Dunsan and can be a good option as the generic copy-cat business model typically involves picture-menus and prices under ₩10,000 a meal. Options go beyond sushi to salads, pastas, gratins, and Japanese style omu-rice. Korean-style sushi, not to be confused with kimbap is extremely flamboyant in appearance.

Finally, if just looking for a quick snack, don't be afraid to try the street food. In central Daejeon around Jungangno there are at least 1-2 of the standard Korean odeng stands. Topokki (떡볶이tteokbokki) is a spicy ricecake and eggs in red spicy sauce. Stalls plus a handful of vendors with permanent shop-fronts can also be found here. The funny looking "buns" you may see the owner frying up are in fact essentially an inside-out pancake with syrup and nuts.

The following are a few of the more outstanding or unusual eateries:

Indy. Indian restaurant on the north side of town. Service may be a little slow for some and their prices are in the higher range. Curry dishes come with free rice or naan. Vegetarian options are available.

Loving Hut. Part of a chain of organic, 100% vegan, new pseudo-religious group-run restaurants. Prices typically under ₩5,000, owners are friendly and probably won't try to convert you. Fake-meat can also be purchased to take home. A second outlet may be opening near Expo Park.

Sung Sim Dang. Established in 1956, this bakery has a wall full of past awards and credentials on display, the prices for baked goods are similar to elsewhere and they make their own macaroons.

Flying Pan. Restaurant specialising in Italian style cooking and steaks, seemingly owned by the same folks as Sung Sim Dang next door. It's practically a local institution so cab drivers will know it. Has a separate cafe upstairs.

TGI Fridays. The obligatory local chapter of the international American bar/restaurant franchise. Has an outlet about 100 m from the Government Complex station (opposite E-mart), but more notable is the one in the Lotte Department store in Seo-gu as it takes up the entire west side of 9F, offering sunset views of the city and mountains.

Kraze Burger. A Korean dine-in burger chain with an outlet in Dunsan-dong, about one and a half blocks west from the main Timeworld intersection and on the north side of the road (backing on to the drinking precinct) and another near City Hall. Noteworthy because the chain has extensive mushroom/tofu options for those who don't eat meat.

TacoGang. Tacos, burritos, fajitas, nachos, and enchiladas.

Daejeon Cantina. Mexican restaurant/bar.

House Grill. Excellent burgers, arguably the best in Korea. Also offers chili fries, spaghetti, wraps, and huge donkatsu.

sungsimdang. Seongsimdang, which started as a small steamed bun house in front of Daejeon Station in 1956, is a local bread house that represents Daejeon by growing with the pride and love of Daejeon citizens.

Gwangcheon Restaurant. Located in Seonhwa-dong, it is a traditional duruchigi restaurant with more than 30 years of tradition.

Jeongdongmoonhwasa. Financier, Egg Tart, Canule are sold on the same day of production.

OSEA Kalguksu (Kalguksu). Hand-kalguksu restaurant, Korea's representative food.

Taepyeongso rice soup. Soup rice, beef intestines soup, beef soup, boiled beef head slices, and beef sashimi are popular main dishes.

Vesta. It is a premium Vesta buffet with top-notch dishes, elegant interiors, and five senses satisfaction, presented by 100 professional chefs.

Jinro house. The stir-fried bean curd is spicy and has a deep taste, and the boiled pork is popular because it is soft and savory.

Kimhwa Kalguksu. It is a place where you can have a hearty meal near Daejeon Station.

Wolsanbonga. This is Daejeon's representative Korean restaurant, and galbi, naengmyeon, and galbitang are popular menus.

Karamel. Karamel is a restaurant specializing in gnocchi and raw noodles pasta, and cabbage salad is also popular.

Keungil Sikdang. Keungil Sikdang is a renowned local dining spot in Daejeon, highly praised for its authentic and hearty Korean comfort food, especially its signature Spicy Braised Chicken (Dak-bokkeum-tang). This establishment is a favorite among locals for its generous portions and deeply satisfying, traditional flavors.

Mashinae Main Store. Mashinae Main Branch in Daejeon is a widely recognized dining spot, celebrated as the birthplace of the unconventional and highly popular dish, Kimchi Pizza Tangsuyuk (Kim-Pi-Tang). This unique fusion of deep-fried pork, kimchi, and melted cheese offers a distinctive local flavor profile that is a must-try for food adventurers. It’s highly recommended for those looking to experience Daejeon's trendsetting food scene and its original culinary creations.

5.5 Dakgalbi Yuseong Sangdae-dong-jeom. 5.5 Dakgalbi in Yuseong-gu is a highly popular franchise location known for serving some of the best stir-fried spicy chicken (Dakgalbi) in the area. This branch is recommended for a satisfying and communal dining experience, where the dish is cooked right at your table to perfection.

Bakery Daejeon has such delicious bakeries that it is called the "City of Bread," including Sungsimdang.

Here are some of the better or more exotic bakeries.

sungsimdang. A famous bakery whose fried soboro and salt bread are delicious. Sungsimdang operates several branches in Daejeon, including its main store, Daejeon Station branch, Lotte Department Store branch, and DCC branch.

sungsimdang cakeboutique. A cake shop near Sungsimdang, also known for its long queues.

Hare Hare. A bakery with a winning experience in an international baking competition. If you buy bread and drinks, eat on the second floor is available. The recommended menu is marked above, so it's easy to choose.

Leppang 99-1. Salt bread and various kinds of cakes are delicious here

Harupang. Harupang is a highly recommended stop on the Daejeon "bread pilgrimage" for visitors seeking specialty local bakeries beyond the big names. This charming dessert heaven is celebrated for its unique and visually appealing selection of pastries and bread. It offers a great opportunity to sample the diverse and high-quality baking culture Daejeon is known for.

Cold Butter Bake Shop Headquarters. Cold Butter Bake Shop is a must-visit in Daejeon for lovers of rich, high-quality butter-based pastries. This main branch is famous for its exceptional selection of Scones and signature Salt Bread, which often sell out early in the day. Located in the heart of the city, it offers a sophisticated taste of Daejeon's modern bakery scene, making it a perfect spot for a premium coffee and dessert break.

Mongsim Daeheung Branch. A bakery known for its madeleines and financiers.

mimi dessert. A bakery known for its salt bread sandwiches.

Parcel Bakery. A bakery known for its well-crafted signature baked goods.

Gwanjeodang. A bakery known for its fruit-filled baguettes.

Harehare Dunsan Branch. A bakery with a second-floor café where visitors can enjoy bread and desserts in a relaxed atmosphere.

Green Bakery. A bakery known for its egg tarts with a rich, buttery flavor.

Rorone Bakery. Popular for pairing fresh pastries with coffee in a cozy setting.

Cold Butter Bake Shop Main Branch. Best known for its salt bread and often included on bakery tours in Daejeon.

Hgeuimja. Specializing in cakes and desserts served in a calm and cozy atmosphere.

Drink

There are two major "downtown" areas for drinking in Daejeon. One is in new-town in Dunsan-dong, opposite the Timeworld Galleria shopping complex, and a short walk from Government Complex Daejeon subway station. The second is in the city centre of old Daejeon, down by Jungangno subway station.

In addition, two further large drinking quarters exist in Yuseong and around Chungnam University as well as opposite Seodaejeon Korail station. Smaller areas of bars naturally exist beside each of Daejeon's universities, such as Hannam in the far east and Woosong in the far south.

Note that many bars in Daejeon bar entry to foreigners and people over the age of 30.

Santa Claus Lounge. Basement hangout place that offers free darts, pool table and foosball. This bar is popular with foreigners, especially international KAIST students.

Yellow Taxi. Yellow Taxi is a western bar. It is very large, with enough space to dance, and has lots of tables to sit and enjoy company. Drinks and food served. There are 2 dart boards and a pool table. On weekends, expect to find live music: rock, funk, blues, or electronic.

Daebak Pocha. Daebak Pocha is near Woosong University in Daejeon. Drinks and food are delicious and reasonably priced that many people, especially Woosong University students visit.

Sweet Night Kitchen, Daejeon Daeheung Branch. A bar where you can eat sashimi, barbecue, and steak at the same time.

Wolves and Blue Stars. Wolf and Blue Star is a uniquely themed cafe in Daejeon known for its artistic and cozy ambiance, often featuring whimsical decor and high-quality beverages. It serves as a comfortable retreat, offering various specialty coffees, teas, and delicious, often homemade, desserts. This spot is highly recommended for those looking for a quiet, distinctive cafe experience far from the typical chain stores.

Ociocoffee. The signature menu is "Ocioplot." Latte with black sesame ice cream

Loch House. A cafe with various desserts including cute bear apple pie

Mokumoku. A cozy cafe selling various crepes

Ndoor. Cute cafe with a soft atmosphere and sells croffles

coffee anniversary. An antique cafe. You can order a lettering cake

Cafe cozy. Like its name, it's a comfortable, green cafe

Kiiiko. Orange americano and fig tiramisu are popular.

Countcoffee. The interior is spacious and pleasant, and has good access to the downtown

At. There are a lot of reviews saying that the staff is kind

Lewynnn. Deep americano and sweet milk tea are delicious.

Hide Out. Hideout is a cafe famous for its cake restaurants in Daejeon. More than 10 kinds of handmade cakes are prepared every day, and lemon cake with a combination of lemon curd's freshness and soft sheets is by far the favorite menu. The spacious interior of the store is decorated with a cute interior, and there are various seats such as an outdoor terrace and sitting area, so you can have a comfortable time.

A bite of the crescent moon. It is a brunch cafe that serves a variety of sandwiches in a cozy atmosphere. This place is a popular menu with sandwiches made with croissants and focaccia, which are baked using fresh ingredients, making it a comfortable place to visit alone. Also, it is possible to order in a group, making it suitable for visiting with multiple people.

Incurve. It is an emotional cafe with the theme of Luck and Four-leaf Clover, and it is a great place to heal with a clean white-tone interior and various plants. The signature menu, Luck Latte, is topped with sweet white chocolate cream and four-leaf clover to satisfy both visual and taste. In addition, it provides visitors with a special experience by writing a guest book and meeting cute dogs.

One It To. Located in Daejeon, this cafe offers cute interiors and various kinds of fruit acidity. In particular, fruit acidity is soft and delicious, with fresh fruit and soft cream in combination, and it is made with castella bread. It can be accompanied by a pet, and there is also a takeaway service.

patisserie.lutz. Located in Dunsan-dong, Daejeon, the dessert cafe is famous for its cute Kkumdori tarts and a variety of baked confectionery. At the cozy store, you can feel the Christmas atmosphere, and it is perfect for dates as most seats consisting of two people. The signature Kkumdori tarts have citron filling in them for a refreshing taste, and a variety of desserts change with the seasons. In addition, there are a variety of beverage menus, which are great to enjoy with coffee.

Mimi Dessert. It is famous for its Dubai chewy cookies and a variety of desserts. Specifically, up to three Dubai chewy cookies are available per person, and the combination of cardif and pistachio spreads is why many visitors come here.

Work Room Coffe. As an emotional cafe that offers a variety of desserts and drinks, parfait is especially popular using fresh fruits. Inside, the black tone creates a modern and clean atmosphere, and the photo zone and cute props add charm. It is positioned to be accompanied by pets and easy to use public transportation.

Beaneer. It is a cafe that offers an emotional atmosphere and a variety of desserts. Especially, pistachio cream latte and fruit sando are popular, and they are suitable for dog owners because they can be accompanied by pets. The inside of the cafe is decorated with cozy and warm lights, so you can spend a comfortable time.

Jelly Fore. It is a cafe full of cute props and Japanese sensibility. There is a variety of pudding and jelly menus, and custard pudding is especially popular. The menu is in the form of a diary, so it's fun to watch. The inside of the cafe is decorated with cute props, so there are many photo spots that are good for taking pictures. Also, you can accompany your pet, and takeout and delivery services are provided.

Mood Beige. A cake specialty store with same-day lettering, it offers cute and cute designs. Available on-site without reservation, there are a wide variety of cakes available, which are useful when you urgently need a cake. It is reasonably priced, and the lettering service is provided free of charge, making it a perfect place for anniversaries or birthday parties.

Sumgyeol Coffee. A spacious café known for its traditional Korean shaved ice desserts and large second-floor seating area.

Patisserie Sosin. Known for its beautifully crafted cakes, making it a popular choice for special occasions and gifts.

Champ Space Coffee Roasters. A coffee roastery known for its warm atmosphere and carefully brewed specialty coffee.

Monostone. A stylish café known for its photogenic interior and popular egg tarts.

Oud Lune. A dessert café known for its salt bread and welcoming service.

Sleep

Budget Jjimjilbangs are not ubiquitous, but they are there. Check that they allow overnight sleeping first.

Magic 24 Sauna. A jjimjilbang located very close to Daejeon's primary Express Bus Terminal, this is situated conveniently for those passing through town. The building is a nondescript white cube with a simple backlit sign in hangul (no English) which sticks out like a sore thumb amongst all its trashy neon neighbours. This jjimjilbang offers hot and cold public baths from the natural thermal springs of Yuseong district.

Another jjimjilbang is available in the Rodeo Town building, between City Hall and Tanbang subway stations, and walking distance (~1 km towards and beyond City Hall) from downtown Dunsan. A Youth Hostel has dorm accommodation for ₩7,000-8,000 per night. It is located in southern Yuseong, approximately a 10-min walk south from Hanbat Nat'l University or you can take the 102, 103, 104 or 113 bus to its western termination and then walk east for its approximate location. You will then take the left fork and going away from the terminal, which is adjacent to the restaurant buildings, and you will see a left turn, about 250 m, which leads to a very big youth hostel. It appears to be intended mainly for conventions and conferences. There are just rooms where you get a blanket to sleep on the floor so don't expect beds. Showers are shared.

Rodeo Land 24:00 in Bulgaria. It is one of the largest jjimjilbangs in Daejeon and is often visited by families

Many of these are centred in Dong-gu, near the Dongbu Intercity Bus Terminal or in old downtown in Jung-gu, south of the Jungangno nightlife district. Most western-style hotels with close proximity to the subway line are in the Yuseong Spa vicinity. This is also where you will find the splurge hotels so inquire ahead. Outside of Yuseong, chain hotels also exist around the Government Complex Daejeon.

Toyoko Inn. Part of the Japanese chain of no-frills business hotels.

Dunsan Graytone Hotel. Hotel Grayton Dunsan is about a 1-2 minute walk from Exit 5 of City Hall Station on Daejeon Line 1, and Daejeon KTX Station is 7 stops away by subway. Hanbadang Arboretum is about a 10-minute drive away, and Yuseong Hot Spring Park's footbath experience center is five subway stops away. A large shopping mall, general hospital, and government offices are located near the hotel. The hotel provides facilities and services for travelers and business travelers, including meeting rooms and parking lots. Fee are around ₩71,500 per night for a smart single room and ₩88,000 for a standard double. (for adults).

Riveria. The only 5-star hotel in Daejeon.

LOTTE City Hotel Daejeon. Lotte City Hotel Daejeon is about a 17-minute drive from KTX Daejeon Station on the Gyeongbu Line, and about a 22-minute drive from Daejeon Intermodal Bus Terminal. Nearby attractions include the Daejeon Convention Center, which is about a 1-minute walk away, Hanbadang Arboretum, which is about a 5-minute drive away, and Sacred Heart Cathedral, which is about a 1-minute walk away. The hotel features a business center, meeting rooms, and banquet halls, as well as a fitness center and coin-operated laundry facilities. The hotel has a total of 306 rooms with cozy interiors. The hotel's dining facilities include 'C' cafe', which offers all-day dining overlooking the city of Daejeon.

Learn

A few of the universities in town accept considerable numbers of international students.

DICC. DICC runs a range of Korean language classes. The most basic elementary classes are held in the medium of English language on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. It is best to inquire in person as the website is poorly maintained. Elementary courses start several times each year. Intermediate courses start as demand dictates.

Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST). One of South Korea's premier universities, also ranked among the top universities in the world, with a focus on science and engineering.

Daejeon University. One of the private university in Daejeon.

Work

Daejeon has numerous job openings for ESL/EFL teachers at public schools and private academies. Most teaching jobs require applicants to be a native English speaker and to have a 3-4 yr college degree. Salaries for teaching jobs generally start between ₩2.0 and 2.5 million per month and often include free housing and round-trip airfare on a 1-year contract. Since the Korean won has dropped precipitously in value relative to other major currencies, salaries are starting to rise.