Mayor Lee Jang-woo: "Daejeon Sets All-Time Record with 90.94 Million Visitors Last Year"

Call for Enhanced Public Transportation Convenience

Urban Railway Line 1... Peak Hour Intervals Reduced from 6-7 Minutes to 5 Minutes

Lee Jangwoo, Mayor of Daejeon (Photo by Daejeon City)

Lee Jang-woo, Mayor of Daejeon, stated, "Last year, the number of visitors to Daejeon reached a record high of 90.94 million," and added, "With nearly half—48.1%—of visitors coming for food-related tourism, if we further strengthen Daejeon's bakery industry and local restaurant scene, as well as other food tourism content, Daejeon will develop into an even better tourist city."

At the weekly work meeting he presided over on the 16th, Mayor Lee made these remarks as he called for improvements to public transportation convenience, amid rising oil prices, the construction of Urban Railway Line 2 (tram), and the record number of visitors to Daejeon—all of which are contributing to increased public transportation usage.

He instructed the preparation of measures to enhance convenience for subway users during peak hours and to strengthen the operation of eco-friendly transportation, in light of the significant increase in subway ridership due to rising fuel prices.

In terms of traffic improvement, it has been noted that traffic flow has improved since the opening of a temporary road near Jangdae Intersection. Various traffic measures will also be implemented to minimize inconvenience to citizens caused by the construction of Urban Railway Line 2 (tram).

To begin with, the interval between trains on Urban Railway Line 1 during peak commute times will be reduced from the current 6-7 minutes to 5 minutes, and staff will be deployed at major congested stations to maintain order.

In addition, 500 new Tashu bicycles, an eco-friendly mode of transportation, will be deployed, and the locations of these bicycles will be adjusted based on usage analysis at key sites.

Mayor Lee said, "We should use this as an opportunity not for a temporary increase in public transportation usage due to high oil prices, but to expand service and upgrade the transfer system in order to increase the number of public transportation users in the long term."

One of the factors behind the increased use of public transportation is the steady growth in the number of visitors to Daejeon.

According to Korea Tourism Data Lab, the number of visitors to Daejeon last year was about 90.94 million, the highest ever recorded. After falling to 69.11 million in 2021, the number began to recover in 2022.

The number of visitors in 2022 rose to 75.61 million, up 9.4% from the previous year, and continued to increase to 82.01 million in 2023. In 2024, it reached 84.64 million, and in 2025, 90.95 million, setting new all-time highs.

Notably, nearly half—48.1%—of all visitors came for food-related tourism.

Mayor Lee reiterated, "If we further strengthen Daejeon's bakery industry and local restaurant scene, as well as other food tourism content, Daejeon will develop into an even better tourist city."

Photo by Daejeon City

In addition, management will be strengthened to minimize the damage to trees that may occur during major construction projects such as the construction of Urban Railway Line 2.

Mayor Lee emphasized, "Conduct a thorough preliminary survey and review of large and regular trees within the construction area to closely examine whether they can be preserved," adding, "Any trees that can be transplanted should be relocated and utilized in other parks or green spaces as much as possible."

He also stated, "In cases where felling is unavoidable, the relevant procedures and reasons must be clearly communicated to citizens to prevent unnecessary misunderstandings," and added, "For large trees that have grown for decades, it is necessary to strengthen guidelines so that, rather than simply considering costs, priority is given to protection and transplantation, taking into account urban landscapes and environmental value."

Regarding the risk of wildfires in the spring, the city will also consider utilizing existing vehicles that become available after the introduction of new ambulances to support sister cities and promote international cooperation.

He further instructed that major national projects and urban infrastructure projects be carried out without setbacks, and that administrative work be managed stably so that there are no gaps in city administration even during the election period.

Mayor Lee emphasized, "Policies and administration for the city's development must continue under any circumstances," and added, "I will do my best to enhance the city's competitiveness in ways that citizens can truly feel."

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