Daejeon Rises as a "City of Excitement" and "City of Waiting"

Past, Present, and Future Time-Travel Festival Runs Until the 16th

Lee Jangwoo, Mayor of Daejeon, and Kkumssi Family (Photo by Daejeon City)

Daejeon has shed its long-standing image as a "boring city" and firmly established itself as a vibrant city full of excitement and a destination where people are willing to wait in line.

This transformation is credited to the growth spurred by the "Daejeon 0 O'Clock Festival," which has been held for two consecutive years in 2023 and 2024. This year, the "2025 Daejeon 0 O'Clock Festival," which promises to fill the hot summer nights with memories, romance, and love, opened on August 8.

The 0 O'Clock Festival kicked off this year with a calligraphy performance wishing for a successful festival, an air show by the Air Force’s special flight team Black Eagles, and a commitment to the "three no's": no safety accidents, no litter, and no price gouging.

The opening ceremony featured a spectacular 90-minute time-travel parade through the Past Zone, Present Zone, and Future Zone, including a traditional marching band, a foreign performers group, Kkumdori robots and Kkumssi characters, honored guests, cheerleaders, a steam locomotive, the Korea Memorial Road, a speed dance team, a hydrogen tram, and a traditional folk play street.

The highlight of the 2025 Daejeon 0 O'Clock Festival opening ceremony was the "wedding of Kkumdori and Kkumsooni" held on the main stage at Jungang-ro.

The story behind the wedding was that Kkumdori, the mascot of the 1993 Daejeon Expo who had long been forgotten by citizens, was able to achieve independence?thanks to Daejeon City's youth rent support, participation in the Kkumdori merchandise business, and the launch of Kkumdori ramen, Makgeolli, and walnut cookies?enabling him to finally marry Kkumsooni.

Lee Jangwoo, Mayor of Daejeon, who officiated the ceremony, said, "Daejeon ranks first nationwide in marriage rates. I am delighted that we can finally celebrate the happy wedding of Kkumdori and Kkumsooni, parents of five children, here at the 0 O'Clock Festival. We have also invited Geumdong and Eunsuni, Kkumdori's parents from the planet Gampilago, to this meaningful occasion. The Kkumssi Family has gathered together at the 0 O'Clock Festival. I hereby declare, in front of the citizens of Daejeon, that the marriage of Kkumdori and Kkumsooni is now official."

Mayor Lee continued, "Now in its third year, the 0 O'Clock Festival will be the best festival vacation of this summer. The label 'boring city' no longer suits Daejeon. We will do our best to ensure a safe festival for the tourists visiting Daejeon over the next nine days. I hope everyone enjoys this happy midsummer night’s festival."