Daejeon is South Korea's science capital — a young, green and well-planned city at the very centre of the country, home to leading universities, research institutes and the famous Daedeok Innopolis tech cluster. Clean, modern and easy to live in, it pairs cutting-edge labs and start-ups with leafy parks, natural hot springs and one of Korea's most beloved bakeries, all at a relaxed pace and a budget-friendly cost.
Daejeon has a humid continental climate, with hot, humid summers, cold, dry winters and pleasant springs and autumns. As a major university and research city, it has a friendly, well-educated international community where English is widely taught and used. Korean is the language of daily life, but its central location, superb transport links, lightning-fast internet and safe, convenient, great-value lifestyle make it an easy and rewarding place to call home.
Location Info
- Young, green science city with a low cost of living and a welcoming expat scene
- One of the safest cities anywhere, with very low crime day or night
- Central transport hub — KTX bullet trains reach Seoul in under an hour
Top Experiences
Yuseong Hot Springs
Soak away the week in the naturally heated, mineral-rich waters of this historic spa district, where bathhouses and free riverside footbaths have drawn visitors for over a century.
Expo Science Park & Hanbit Tower
Explore the legacy of the 1993 World Expo, now a riverside science park crowned by the landmark Hanbit Tower, with museums and the O-World zoo and theme park nearby.
Hanbat Arboretum
Wander one of the largest urban arboretums in the country, a vast, free green oasis of themed gardens, glasshouses and shady paths right in the city centre.
Sungsimdang Bakery
Join the queues at Korea's most famous bakery, a Daejeon institution since 1956 — the fried-soboro and chive-stuffed buns are pilgrimage-worthy and a point of pure local pride.
Gyejoksan Red Clay Trail
Kick off your shoes and walk the famous barefoot red-clay path winding through pine forest up this small mountain — a uniquely Korean wellness ritual with great views at the top.
Daecheong Lake
A short trip from the centre brings you to a vast, scenic reservoir ringed by walking and cycling trails, lakeside cafés and some of the prettiest sunsets in the region.
Getting Around
Daejeon is flat, orderly and easy to navigate. A single clean metro line runs through the centre, complemented by an excellent bus network and a tap-and-go T-money card that works on everything. Taxis are cheap and plentiful, and as a national transport crossroads the city's KTX station reaches Seoul in under an hour and Busan in around an hour and a half. Most journeys around the city cost little more than a dollar.
When to Go
Spring (April to May) and autumn (September to October) are the most pleasant, with mild, sunny days, blossom and golden foliage. Summers are hot and humid with a rainy spell in midsummer, while winters are cold and dry but bright — comfortable for sightseeing if you wrap up.
Good to Know
- The Korean won (KRW) is the currency, and Daejeon offers great value for a major city.
- Korean is the official language; English is widely taught and used in international schools.
- A T-money card covers metro, buses and taxis, and tops up at any convenience store.
- Internet is among the fastest in the world, and the city is exceptionally well connected.
- Daejeon is extremely safe, with very low crime at any hour.
- The city runs on Korea Standard Time (GMT+9).
