Programs with the Theme of "Family Theme Park" at the Former Chungnam Provincial Government Building Gain Popularity
This year marks the third edition of the "Daejeon Midnight Festival," which is being held as a "Chukcance" (a portmanteau of "festival" and "vacance") that combines a stronger "3-Yes" (plenty of things to do, see, and enjoy) with the original "3-No" (no safety accidents, no litter, no price gouging) policy.
In particular, the festival is raising expectations for revitalizing the local economy and tourism industry through family-oriented experiences and a variety of programs.
On August 11, Lee Jangwoo, Mayor of Daejeon, presided over the weekly administrative meeting, where he highly praised the smooth progress of the "Daejeon Midnight Festival," commended public officials for their hard work, and urged them to remain vigilant until the very end.
Mayor Lee stated, "I am grateful that, as the festival enters its fourth day, it has proceeded smoothly without any major incidents or accidents such as casualties. However, the moment we let our guard down, accidents can happen. I ask department heads to manage this aspect thoroughly."
Given that Daejeon City expects more than 2 million visitors during the festival, the city completed advance preparations across all areas, including safety management, environmental maintenance, and food hygiene. During the festival, more than 3,000 personnel are deployed on-site each day to ensure safety and order.
The event area has also been divided into 1-kilometer responsibility zones, with Dong-gu, Jung-gu, and environmental cooperatives participating in a cleaning responsibility system, ensuring that the streets remain clean.
A dedicated team of 104 people, organized into environmental monitoring, maintenance, and reusable container units, along with approximately 1,200 cleaning personnel, are deployed in day and night shifts to provide real-time maintenance.
To ensure food safety and price stability, an "emergency food poisoning response team" and an "on-site food safety inspection team" are operating around the clock to conduct real-time inspections and guidance. In addition, a triple defense system has been established through crackdowns by Daejeon City's special judicial police and public welfare police, as well as an anti-price gouging campaign by the Small Business Policy Division.
This year's Midnight Festival, in particular, has become even richer in content, leading to an increase in family visitors.
On the main stage street, visitors are greeted by a model of Kkumdori made from fresh flowers, an ice hotel, and an electric mini train. At the former Chungnam Provincial Government building, a "family theme park" features experience programs such as the Kkumssi Science Lab and Kkumssi Arcade, a garden-style Kkumdori Garden where various Kkumdori characters come together, and a time-travel playground, offering a variety of attractions and hands-on experiences for families.
Other exciting content includes the "Bread(0)si Zone Experience," a tour of Daejeon's top bakeries; a nostalgic pop concert every night featuring top-tier trot singers under the theme of "Daejeon Blues"; a local artists' festival in the old downtown inspired by the Edinburgh Festival in the UK; a "Dancing Bear Random Dance" street performance event featuring popular YouTubers; and a "4D Attraction Experience Hall" offering a realistic space journey with Kkumdori.
Mayor Lee emphasized, "A path is formed when footsteps accumulate. By addressing shortcomings from previous festivals and taking this third step forward, we will lay the foundation for Daejeon to become a world-class city of cultural content and a premier tourist destination."
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