Mayor Lee Jangwoo of Daejeon Cites Regional Economic Growth as Primary Driver of Population Increase

Positive Indicators Seen in Population Growth, Regional Economic Expansion, and Sports Achievements
"We Will Carefully Oversee the Budget for the Tram, Public Children's Rehabilitation Hospital, and Webtoon Cluster"

Photo by Daejeon City

Lee Jangwoo, Mayor of Daejeon, stated, "The population decline that had continued since 2013 has clearly reversed this year, showing a marked increase." He cited regional economic growth as the primary factor behind the population increase.

During the final expanded executive meeting of the year, held on December 2, Mayor Lee said, "As of October, the cumulative population has increased by about 2,800 people, marking the third largest increase nationwide after Gyeonggi and Incheon provinces."

Mayor Lee shared the major achievements of Daejeon's administration in 2025, including the economy, tourism and culture, and transportation infrastructure, and called for a proactive response system in preparation for the year-end and the beginning of the new year.

He especially expressed his gratitude to all public officials, saying, "This year, the outstanding capabilities of every member of the public sector have been fully demonstrated," as he shared this year's achievements.

Photo by Daejeon City

There was also mention of regional economic growth.

The market capitalization of the 67 listed companies based in the region is approximately 90 trillion won, a significant increase from about 35 trillion won before the launch of the 8th popularly elected administration. The scale of technology exports has also reached about 13.3 trillion won.

Foreign direct investment (FDI) reached a record high last year at 591 million dollars, a 503% increase compared to 2021.

German global science and technology company Merck Life Science (Merck) is set to complete a new bio-processing production center in Daejeon this year, investing approximately 430 billion won (300 million euros). In addition, other foreign bio companies such as Ligachem Bio have also filed investment notifications, resulting in a sharp increase in FDI.

Furthermore, the city continues to rank among the top nationwide in per capita income and in surveys of city brand and life satisfaction.

Photo by Daejeon City

The remarkable performance of Daejeon's local sports teams also stands out.

Hanwha Eagles and Daejeon Hana Citizen both finished as runners-up this year, and the city achieved 9th place overall at the National Sports Festival, breaking into the top ten for the first time in 23 years.

Notably, the Hanwha Eagles' 40th anniversary fireworks show, held on November 30, attracted large crowds from across the country and concluded without any safety incidents.

The tourism and cultural industries also achieved remarkable results.

The Kkumdori merchandise line has expanded to nearly 150 types, and the Kkumdori gourmet series sold 1.1 million packs of ramen, 60,000 bottles of Makgeolli, and walnut cookies worth approximately 2.2 billion won.

The Daejeon Bread Festival is gaining popularity nationwide, and the Daejeon International Wine Expo, the largest wine exhibition in Korea, attracts many tourists every year.

Mayor Lee also reviewed transportation infrastructure issues such as the Yuseong Multipurpose Terminal and new transportation systems, urging thorough preparation and swift progress.

The Yuseong Multipurpose Terminal project is now nearly 90% complete and is expected to be finished by the end of this year, two years ahead of schedule. The goal is to open in mid-January next year.

The Yuseong Multipurpose Terminal will be built near Guam Station, integrating intercity and express bus routes to improve transportation convenience and establishing a transfer system linked to the BRT.

Photo by Daejeon City

The new three-car articulated vehicles, a next-generation mode of transportation, are also scheduled to arrive in Korea soon for certification tests.

The CTX project, which will connect Daejeon, Sejong, and Cheongju Airport, passed the private investment feasibility study by the Korea Development Institute (KDI) last month and is gaining momentum. The project will be carried out through private investment, with construction set to begin in 2028 and completion targeted for 2034.

To support the local construction industry, which is facing difficulties due to the suspension of project financing (PF), Mayor Lee instructed that payments for construction progress and other expenses be executed promptly without delay.

He also ordered that next year's budget execution be ready for immediate implementation starting in January, emphasizing a proactive response.

Regarding next year's budget proposal, Mayor Lee stated, "A significant portion of the budget for projects such as the tram, the public children's rehabilitation hospital, and the webtoon cluster has been included," adding, "We will ensure careful management until the final approval of the budget."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.