'2025 Daejeon Zero Hour Festival' Opens on August 8
Held Along Jungang-ro from Daejeon Station to the Former Chungnam Provincial Government Office
The "Daejeon Zero Hour Festival," a time-travel-themed event connecting the past, present, and future, will embark on a nine-day journey from August 8 to August 16, spanning the area from Daejeon Station to the former Chungnam Provincial Government Office along Jungang-ro.
On August 5, Daejeon Mayor Lee Jangwoo held a press conference at City Hall prior to the festival, stating, "This festival will serve as a starting point for Daejeon to leap forward as a global city of cultural content." He added, "This year as well, we aim to provide a festival that is clean, safe, and reasonably priced, as we challenge ourselves to achieve the 'Three Years in a Row, Three Nos Festival.'"
Mayor Lee emphasized, "The Daejeon Zero Hour Festival has established itself as Korea's leading summer urban festival, attracting 1.1 million visitors in 2023 and 2 million in 2024. For two consecutive years, it has been held as a 'Three Nos Festival' with no safety accidents, no litter, and no price gouging, and we will continue this tradition."
The festival will operate daily from 2:00 p.m. to midnight. Experience market booths will be open from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., and the food zone will be open from 5:00 p.m. to midnight.
Lee Jangwoo, mayor of Daejeon, is holding a pre-festival press briefing at the city hall press conference room on the 5th. (Photo by Mo Seokbong)
◆ A Time-Travel-Themed Festival Linking Past, Present, and Future
The 2025 Daejeon Zero Hour Festival will kick off with an air show by the Air Force Black Eagles. Under the catchphrase "Daejeon That Never Sleeps, Fun That Never Ends," the festival is designed as a time-travel-themed event connecting Daejeon's past, present, and future. Content that was lacking last year has been significantly improved to enhance competitiveness.
The Past Zone highlights the pioneering spirit of Daejeon, starting from the opening of Daejeon Station in 1905. Various programs will be held, including "Immersive Train Travel Performances," "Retro Cultural Experiences," "Global Cultural Performances with International Participants," and the "Daejeon Blues Pop Concert."
At the entrance, the "Dreamdori and Dreamsooni Giant Flower Sculptures," introduced for the first time this year, will be installed. The special stage at Daejeon Station has been designed with an open structure in four directions, making it easier for visitors to access the festival from the station. A large LED screen has been installed above the stage, allowing people in the nearby Jungang Market and Oriental Medicine Street to enjoy performances and food together.
The Present Zone will showcase Daejeon's cultural and artistic capabilities through a variety of performances. The "Nine Days, Nine Colors Parade," featuring a different theme each day, will take place alongside performances by the city’s arts troupes and the "Festivalcation Concert," offering a diverse range of programs.
In particular, before the Festivalcation Concert, there will be a "15 Minutes to Change the World: Daejeon" lecture, giving citizens the opportunity to learn about Daejeon's current and future industries. The "Daejeonboro Festival" performances and exhibitions will be held simultaneously at 41 cultural venues in the old downtown area, including underground shopping centers, small theaters, and galleries. This year, a booklet has been produced to make it easier for citizens to access the various programs at a glance.
The Future Zone has been significantly expanded to reflect Daejeon's status as the science capital. The "Daejeon Future Science Experience Center," featuring AI and VR experiences and exhibitions on six strategic industries, has been enhanced in both scale and interactive elements. A large-scale photo zone centered on Daejeon's representative character, the "Dreamseed Family," has been created, and a "Family Theme Park" has been newly established at the former Chungnam Provincial Government Office.
The theme park is designed around the concept of traveling through space on the "Dreamdori Express," and consists of 12 areas, including "Gampilrago Sand Park" and "Gampilrago Dreamdori Hill," both inspired by Dreamdori's home planet, as well as "Dreamdori Garden" and "Character Land." Family musicals such as "Dreamseed Family Starlight Guardians" and "Kongsuni and Friends' AI Music Journey" for children will also be presented, raising expectations.
◆ All of Daejeon Becomes a Festival Venue... Revitalizing Tourism and Consumption
During the festival, Daejeon City will operate "Daejeon Travel Week" to allow people to experience the festival atmosphere throughout the city. Local accommodations, O-World, and Expo Aquarium will be available at discounted prices. Various experiential programs, including the Bread Pilgrimage City Tour Bus, Science Tourism Tours, and Goods Pop-up Stores, have been prepared to further showcase Daejeon's appeal.
The "Daejeon Zero Hour Festival Pre-Events," held last weekend in Seo-gu, Yuseong-gu, and Daedeok-gu, also concluded successfully with enthusiastic participation from many citizens.
◆ A Festival That Revitalizes the Local Economy, with Citizens as the Main Characters
Aiming to become a world-class festival centered on cultural and artistic performances, the Daejeon Zero Hour Festival will feature 5,900 cultural and artistic participants performing in 540 shows. High-quality local cultural and artistic content, such as street busking, traditional folk play parades, cultural and artistic open-air events, and a citizens' grand chorus, can be enjoyed up close.
In collaboration with the Daejeon Metropolitan Branch of the Korea Theater Association, the "Daejeon International Small Theater Festival" will also be held from August 5 to August 16. Theater performances from both Korea and abroad, including the United States, the United Kingdom, China, and Romania, will be featured.
Citizen participation is especially central to the festival. A total of 2,294 citizens will directly participate in cultural and artistic performances, including the Citizens' Parade, where residents of each district showcase their individuality, the Liberation 80th Anniversary Parade, and the closing day's Citizens' Grand Chorus. In addition, 1,665 volunteers will help operate the festival, enhancing its quality.
Fifty-eight organizations, including companies, universities, institutions, and associations, will participate. Small business owners will present Daejeon's cuisine and products through six food zones, a social economy marketplace, and a small business open market.
◆ Enjoyed by People from Around the World, Growing into a Global Festival
Daejeon City has also prepared content for international visitors. At Urideul Park, there will be a street dance competition, an office worker band contest, and the National University Song Festival Returns. Performances by sister and friendship city art troupes and overseas dance groups will add an exotic atmosphere to the festival. In collaboration with the Jeonju International Sori Festival, the Spanish Royal Opera Company "Teatro Real" has been specially invited to perform flamenco. Additionally, popular YouTubers with large followings will livestream the event, spreading the festival’s excitement worldwide.
◆ Challenging the 'Three Years in a Row, Three Nos Festival,' Flawless Safety Management
To achieve the "Three Years in a Row, Three Nos Festival," the city has established thorough safety measures. Each day, 250 professionals will be deployed, and the city will cooperate with relevant agencies such as the police and fire departments. The festival area, including the Past, Present, and Future Zones, will be divided into five sectors, each managed by a dedicated safety team leader.
Safety personnel will be stationed at all times in vulnerable areas, such as around the stage, Sungshimdang, and Jungangno Station. Emergency evacuation routes will be secured, and an emergency medical station will be operated in cooperation with the Jung-gu Medical Association. An AI-based crowd management system will be implemented to analyze crowd density in real time and respond quickly to any unusual situations. A total of 178 CCTVs will be monitored at the integrated control center and safety situation room, enabling real-time response in emergencies.
To counter the heat, the operating hours of experience and market booths have been adjusted to start at 4:00 p.m., and 30 heat shelters have been secured in underground shopping centers and public institutions. Two 90-meter-long shade trusses will be installed at the venue, and heat mitigation facilities such as water spray trucks, cooling fog, and mist tunnels will be enhanced, with plenty of bottled water provided. Separate waiting rooms and cooling supplies will be prepared for performers, staff, and volunteers to prevent heat-related illnesses. Air conditioning in the underground shopping center will be extended until 1:00 a.m.
◆ Traffic Control and Shuttle Bus Operations... All-Out Efforts to Minimize Citizen Inconvenience
From 5:00 a.m. on August 6 to midnight on August 17, vehicle traffic will be completely restricted in the Jungang-ro area. To minimize inconvenience caused by traffic control, the city will operate a traffic situation room on the second floor of Daejeon Technopark, monitor road conditions around the venue in real time, and take on-site measures as necessary.
Each day, 450 personnel from the police and the Model Drivers' Association will be deployed for traffic control. Twenty-nine city bus routes passing through Jungang-ro will be detoured, and the subway will operate until 1:00 a.m. every day. To facilitate east-west vehicle movement, the Mokcheokgyo riverside bicycle path will be used as a temporary road.
To improve mobility for seniors, people with disabilities, and other transportation-vulnerable groups, the "Dreamdori Circulation Train" will operate 12 times a day from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. within the venue, and a 15-seater minibus will circulate around the venue perimeter.
The shuttle bus will operate from August 6 to August 16, except on Sundays when hospitals and clinics are closed. Additional Tashu rental stations will be set up near the venue, and enforcement against illegal parking and street vendors will be strengthened to ensure smooth traffic flow. A crosswalk will be installed in front of the former Chungnam Provincial Government Office to improve pedestrian safety for visitors moving between the Family Theme Park and the festival grounds.
Mayor Lee Jangwoo stated, "A path is created when footsteps accumulate," and added, "By addressing the shortcomings identified last year, we will ensure that this third step becomes a stepping stone for Daejeon to become a world-class city with global cultural content and a top-tier tourist destination."
He continued, "We will mobilize all administrative power and available resources to minimize inconvenience caused by traffic control during the festival," and requested, "We ask for the active cooperation and understanding of all citizens."
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