South Korea's Leading Summer Festival '2025 Daejeon Zero Hour Festival' Opens August 8

Opening with Black Eagles Air Show
Liberation Day Parade, Future Science Experiences, and a Variety of Exciting Content

The '2025 Daejeon Zero Hour Festival,' which has established itself as South Korea's leading summer festival, will take place from August 8 to August 16, 2025, in the original downtown area of Daejeon.

This year's festival is themed 'A Time Travel Through Daejeon's Past, Present, and Future.' A wide range of programs will be held along a 1-kilometer stretch of Jungang-ro, connecting Daejeon Station to the former Chungnam Provincial Government building.

After attracting 2 million visitors last year and solidifying its status as South Korea's premier summer festival, the Daejeon Zero Hour Festival will once again kick off with a spectacular air show by the Air Force's special flight team, the Black Eagles.

In particular, the festival aims to attract summer vacation tourists with the theme, "This Summer Vacation, Enjoy a Festival Staycation at the Daejeon Zero Hour Festival!"

During the festival, a large-scale street parade with a different theme each day will take place along the entire Jungang-ro. Various participating teams, including international performance groups, professional dance teams, traditional folk game performers, motorcycle clubs, and university cheer squads, will join the parade floats to enhance the festive atmosphere.

On August 15, Liberation Day, a large-scale Liberation Day parade will be held to commemorate the 80th anniversary of liberation, with participation from local veterans and citizens. A commemorative concert by the Army Headquarters Military Band and Honor Guard, co-hosted by Daejeon City and the Daejeon Regional Office of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, is also scheduled, making the day even more meaningful.

The festival venues will also be upgraded. At Mokcheokgyo, a landmark in the original downtown, an immersive media art experience center called 'Kkumdori Ice Hotel' will be set up to help visitors beat the midsummer heat, while large installations and cooling fog tunnels will welcome guests.

The Past Zone in front of Daejeon Station will be newly renovated as an open stage and reconfigured as a Welcome Zone. The 'Zero Hour Zone,' featuring bakeries from Daejeon, the city of bread, a retro train-themed experience space, retro dance and games, and other nostalgic content, will also be abundant.

The art-focused 'Daejeon Boleo Festival' is also noteworthy. This program, held in a fringe format across small galleries, black box theaters, underground shopping malls, and street stages, will offer a variety of exhibitions, performances, and hands-on experiences, providing visitors with a rich urban cultural and artistic festival.

Content for citizens and families will also be strengthened.

The Present Zone's special stage will host K-POP concerts, performances by municipal arts groups, and a grand citizen choir, welcoming audiences with an even larger scale and state-of-the-art systems. The Kkumdori Family characters?Kkumdori's parents, Geumdori and Eunsuni, and the youngest, Kkumnuri?will also make surprise appearances to enhance the festive mood.

The Future Zone will double the size of the 'Daejeon Future Science Experience Center' compared to last year, introducing Daejeon's six strategic industries and future innovative technologies. New technology-based content, such as a 4D space journey with Kkumdori on a VR experience bus, will also be presented. The Kkumssi Family character photo zone and pop-up stores selling Kkumdori ramen, Kkumdori walnut cookies, and other Kkumssi Family merchandise are expected to be popular with family visitors.

A family theme park will be created around the former Chungnam Provincial Government building, featuring a character theme zone and programs that combine culture, arts, science, and tradition. This year, a family musical will be added, transforming the area into a space where children and families can enjoy together.

Exchange with renowned international arts organizations will also be active. The program will include a flamenco performance by the Royal Opera of Madrid, invited performances by arts groups from sister and friendship cities abroad, and a talent show for international students, greatly expanding the festival's global content and paving the way for its international growth.