Daejeon Metro — Map, Lines, Route, Hours, Tickets

Daejeon Metro Information

The first metro line in the city of Daejeon opened in March 2006. It connects Daejeon City Station to both the eastern and western limits of the city. As part of an integrated transport network, the metro service has feeder bus lines serving each station along the entire route.

The Metro network in Daejeon is extremely tidy and clean, and the stations are regularly decorated with artwork by local schoolchildren or students from the University of the Arts. The Seodaejeon-negori and Daejeon stations are venues for small musical performances. The main aim of these performances is to attract the older generation of Korean citizens in the area. Some of these musical performances are in the vein of contemporary jazz.

The Daejeon Metro, often referred to as the subway, plays an important role in the city’s transport system, carrying around 79,500 passengers daily. However, it does not operate 24 hours a day, but only from 5:30 a.m. to midnight.

The metro does not have air conditioning, but it does have screen doors on its platforms for increased safety. It is not possible to walk between platforms and all trains are manned; there are no driverless trains.

Operated by the Daejeon Metropolitan Express Transit Corporation, a ride on the Daejeon Metro costs $1.

Daejeon Metro Map

Map of Daejeon Metro showing different lines and stations. Click on the map to enlarge it or download the Daejeon Metro map in PDF format.

Lines and Stations

The Daejeon Metro system currently operates on a single line with 22 stations and 22.7 kilometres of underground track. The line runs from the northwest of the city to the southeast, passing through the heart of the city. The system serves an average of 113,000 passengers per day and is locally managed with a distinctive green colour scheme.

Station Breakdown

Panam Station (판암역): Located on the Fourth National Line, which runs through the centre of Daejeon, this station serves the Dong district in the east of the city.
Sinheung Station (신흥역): Located on Ogcheon Road in the east of the city, this station serves the Panam-dong area of Dong district.
Dae-dong Station (대동역): Located on Gyejoglo Street near Woosong University and Woosong Information College, this station serves the Dong district.
Daejeon station (대전역): Located on Jung-Anglo Street, this station serves Jeong-dong community in Dong district.
Jungangno station (중앙로역): Located on Jung-Anglo Street, this station mainly serves the Eunhang-dong neighbourhood, a residential area in Jung district.
Jung-gu Office Station (중구청역): This station is also located on Jung-Anglo Street and serves the Seonhwa-dong area, which consists of office buildings within the Jung district.
Seodaejeon Negeori Station (서대전네거리역): Located on Gyeryong-ro Avenue, this station serves the Yongdu-dong area of Jung district.
Oryong station (오룡역): Located on Gyeryong-ro Avenue, this station serves the Oryu-dong neighbourhood in Jung district.
Yongmun Station (용문역): This station serves the Yongmun-dong neighbourhood in Seo-district and has an alighting point at Gyeryong-ro Street.
Tanbang Station (탄방역): Located on Munjeong-ro Street, this station serves Tanbang-dong in Seo district.
City Hall Station (시청역): Located on Dunsan-ri Street, this station serves the Dunsan-dong area of Seo-district.
Daejeon Government Complex Station (정부청사역): Disembarking at Hanbatdaelo Avenue, this station is located near City Hall and serves the Dunsan-dong area of Seo district.
Galma Station (갈마역): This station is located on Hanbatdaelo Street near the prestigious high schools in Dunsan-dong, Seo district.
Wolpyeong station (월평역): Located on Hanbatdaelo Avenue, this station serves the residential area of Wolpyeong-dong in Seo-district.
Gapcheon station (갑천역): Located on Hanbatdaelo Avenue at the entrance to Gapcheondosi Expressway in Wolpyeong-dong, Seo district.
Yuseong Spa Station (유성온천역): This station is located on Yuseongdaelo Street near Bongmyeong-dong neighbourhood in Yuseong district.
Guam station (구암역): Located on Yuseongdaelo Avenue, this station serves the Guam-dong neighbourhood in Yuseong district.
National Cemetery Station (현충원역): Located on Hyakwon-gu Avenue, this station serves the Guam-dong neighbourhood in Yuseong district.
World Cup Stadium Station (월드컵경기장역): This station is located on Hyakwon-gu Avenue, near the Noeun-dong neighbourhood in Yuseong district.
Noeun Station (노은역): This station is located on Hyakwon-gu Avenue and serves the Noeun-dong area of Yuseong district.
Jijok district (지족역): This stop is located near Korea Baptist Theological University and Seminary in Jijok-dong, Yuseong district.
Banseok district (반석역): Located on Bug-yuseongdaelo Street, this station serves the Banseok-dong area of Yuseong district.

Connections

The Daejeon Metro is connected to several bus lines at most stations. In addition, two of its stations have major connections with various railway lines to different parts of the country:

Daejeon Station (대전역): Passengers can transfer to the Gyeongbu, Gyeongjeon and Gyeongbu HSR lines, as well as the Saemaul-ho and Mugunghwa-ho lines.
Seodaejeon Negeori Station (서대전네거리역): This station provides access to the Seodaejeon, Honam and Jeolla bullet train lines as well as the Saemaul-ho and Mugunghwa-ho lines.

Schedule

Daejeon Metro operates from 5.30am to midnight every day. Although the hours of operation may not meet the needs of late-night travel, the metro’s hours of operation still meet the needs of the majority of the city’s residents. Operating hours do not change on weekdays, weekends or holidays, except for occasional service interruptions due to maintenance or emergencies. Updates on these disruptions are usually posted on the company’s social media platforms, particularly Twitter.

However, the frequency of trains varies depending on the time of day and day of the week. On weekdays, trains arrive every 4 minutes during off-peak hours and every 2 minutes during peak hours. After 22:00 on weekdays, passengers can expect a train every 6 to 8 minutes. On weekends and public holidays trains run every 4 minutes throughout the day.

Fares

Daejeon Metro fares are based on both the distance travelled and the age of the passenger. The fare structure is as follows:

Section 1: Journeys of less than 10 kilometres.
Section 2: Journeys over 10 kilometres.

The age categories are as follows:

Children: between 6 and 12 years.
Teenagers: between 13 and 18 years old.
Adults: between 19 and 64 years of age.

There are several payment methods available, including a single journey token, a rechargeable Traffic Card and a simplified version of the Traffic Card known as the 3S Card. Each method has a different price structure and is designed to meet the different needs of the Metro’s customers.

Ticket Prices

Adults:

Section 1:

Token: 1,400 KRW ($1.25 USD).
Traffic Card: 1,250 KRW ($1.12 USD).
3S Cards: 1,400 KRW ($1.25 USD).

Section 2:

Token: 1,500 KRW ($1.34 USD).
Traffic Card: 1,350 KRW ($1.21 USD).
3S Cards: 1,500 KRW ($1.34 USD).

Teenagers:

Section 1:

Token: 1,400 KRW ($1.25 USD).
Traffic Card: 880 KRW ($0.79 USD).
3S Cards: 1,400 KRW ($1.25 USD).

Section 2:

Token: 1,500 KRW ($1.34 USD).
Traffic Card: 960 KRW ($0.86 USD).
3S Cards: 1,500 KRW ($1.34 USD).

Children:

Section 1:

Traffic Card: 550 KRW ($0.49 USD).
Discounted Ticket: 600 KRW ($0.54 USD).

Section 2:

Traffic Card: 600 KRW ($0.54 USD).
Discounted Ticket: 650 KRW ($0.58 USD).

Connections

The Daejeon Metro has multiple connections with bus lines at most of its stations. In particular, two stations offer major connections to various national railway lines:

Daejeon Station (대전역): At this station, passengers can transfer to the Gyeongbu, Gyeongjeon and Gyeongbu HSR lines, as well as the Saemaul-ho and Mugunghwa-ho lines.
Seodaejeon Negeori Station (서대전네거리역): At this station, passengers can transfer to the Seodaejeon, Honam and Jeolla bullet train lines, as well as the Saemaul-ho and Mugunghwa-ho lines.

Rules

When travelling on the Daejeon Metro, please ensure that your belongings do not obstruct other passengers.
Children over the age of six should pay for their metro ticket.
Smoking is not allowed on the Daejeon Metro.
Do not lean on the glass separating the platform from the tracks while waiting for the train.
Persons under the influence of alcohol may be refused entry at the discretion of the Daejeon Metro authorities.
Flammable objects and fireworks are not allowed.
Prams should be placed either at the back or front of the train, in the first or last car.
Running is not allowed in metro stations.
All passengers should behave respectfully towards other passengers.
When walking, keep to the right to allow faster pedestrians to pass.
Do not attempt to enter or leave the train after the doors have closed and the beep has sounded. Do not try to open the doors.
Always use headphones when playing multimedia content on your device to maintain a quiet environment for all passengers.
Do not distract Metro staff from their duties with unnecessary conversation.
Begging and hawking are prohibited in stations and on trains.
Firearms are not allowed. If you are a police officer, you must have your badge with you.
Eating is not allowed while waiting at stations.
Do not enter staff-only areas.
Promotion or advertising of any kind requires prior authorisation.

Fun Facts

The entire journey from one end of the line to the other takes about 40 minutes.
The Daejeon Metro serves an average of 110,000 passengers per day.
Although the Daejeon Metro was originally scheduled to open in 2003, the economic crisis of the 1990s delayed construction and the opening took place in 2006.
Prior to the opening of the Daejeon Metro, the mayor of the city invited 15,000 citizens to try out the metro system for free. However, the proposal was vetoed by an election committee as an act of populism and replaced with the use of water tanks to simulate the capacity of the trains.

Connection to the Airport

The nearest airport to the city of Daejeon is Cheongju International Airport, which is about 61 kilometres from the city centre. Although the airport may seem far away, it is easily accessible via a train line that connects the airport to the city.

To get to the airport, passengers can travel to the Daejeon Metro station and from there to the train terminal of the same name. From there, tickets can be purchased for the Chungbuk Mugunghwa train to the airport. It’s important to check the current timetable at the ticket office, as this train stops at six more stations before reaching the airport.

The ticket price is usually less than $10 USD. The total journey time, including stops, is between 50 and 60 minutes.

Future Expansions

The expansion of the Daejeon Metro includes the construction of a new line, known as Line 2, which is scheduled to open in 2020. The new line will be circular, covering 37 kilometres and serving neighbourhoods around the city centre.

Research into the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of the project began in 2012 by the Korean Institute of Development and the Ministry of Finance and Economy.

However, the plan was met with protests from environmental groups concerned about the impact on Daejeon’s green spaces. As a result, the plan was revised to replace the heavy metro with a light rail system, while maintaining the planned route.

Construction will begin in 2018 and the first phase of the project will be completed two years later. According to the project managers, this line will be fully automatic and have 34 stations.

A third line, Line 3, is also planned. Like Line 2, it will be a light rail system with a length of 26 kilometres. However, with other rail lines currently under construction to connect the city to the Chungcheong region, this project has been put on hold indefinitely. This is despite the fact that a feasibility study was conducted between 2015 and 2017.

Tourist Attractions

Just a short walk from Daejeon Government Complex Station, visitors can explore Hanbat Arboretum Park, which is home to many cultural venues.

These include the Daejeon Cultural and Performing Arts Centre, the Daejeon Museum of Arts, the Pyeongsong Youth Culture Centre and the Ungno Lee Art Museum. All of these facilities are set amidst spacious green landscapes filled with trees and pathways, offering spaces for rest and recreation.
The park also houses a Botanical Learning Centre, where students from all over the country can learn about South Korea’s diverse tree species. These vast spaces are designed to accommodate large crowds, making them perfect venues for various events organised by the local government. These events often promote family gatherings and national holiday celebrations. As the park continues to expand with new facilities, it keeps visitors engaged and eager to return.
Near Yuseong Spa Station you’ll find the famous Yuseong Hot Springs. This destination is popular with locals who come to soak in the hot springs, which are believed to have healing properties due to their high mineral content.
The hot springs are particularly popular with the elderly, who come to enjoy the health benefits of the mineral-rich waters. The area around the hot springs is dotted with hotels and guesthouses that cater to tourists who visit specifically for the therapeutic benefits of the springs.
The reputation of the springs’ healing properties is supported by an ancient legend about a mother who immersed her critically injured child in the river and witnessed a miraculous recovery. Without a doubt, a visit to Yuseong Hot Springs is highly recommended for anyone planning to stay in Daejeon.