Daejeon Expo Citizens' Plaza, where the Expo era continues under moving roofs

How Daejeon Expo South Plaza Became a 34,000 m² Public Space

Daejeon Expo Citizens' Plaza is a place that recreated the South Plaza of the Daejeon World Expo, which was held for 93 days from August 7 to November 7, 1993. At the time, the expo was held under the theme of "The Road to a New Leap Forward," and Daejeon was selected as the host city against the backdrop of being a science city where the Daedeok Research and Development Special Zone and the nationwide transportation network meet.

After the expo ended, the South Plaza was restructured not as a simple event entrance space, but as a plaza used daily by citizens. The current plaza area is 34,000 m², and an outdoor performance venue, sports track, Expo Bridge, and Media Cube building are all in one area. Therefore, this place is closer to an outdoor public space whose use changes depending on the event schedule and weather, rather than a place like an indoor exhibition hall with a fixed viewing order.

Three Movable Shelters Patented in 2010 and a 3,000-seat Outdoor Performance Venue

The most distinctive facility in the plaza is the three-unit Movable Shelter. Each unit measures 45 m × 45 m × 21 m, and when all three are connected, they form an 8,000 m² shaded space. According to Daejeon Tourism Organization guidance, this structure was created based on the winning proposal from a design competition in April 2009 and received a patent on June 21, 2010, as the first moving plaza structure in Korea.

The outdoor performance stage under the Movable Shelter measures 21 m × 12 m × 1 m, and the seating area measures 76 m × 32 m for a capacity of 3,000 seats. There is also a 114 m² rehearsal room and two dressing rooms, each 73 m², which explains why large festivals and local cultural events are concentrated here. On event setup and teardown days, traffic flow may be narrower than usual, so unless your purpose is to watch a performance, it is safer to check plaza or Daejeon Tourism Organization event notices before visiting.

How to Walk from the 24-Hour Sports Track to Expo Bridge

The plaza and sports track are open 24 hours a day, and admission is free. The main feature is a flat asphalt space designed for inline skating, cycling, and jogging, so there is no need to match fixed operating hours like you would for a museum visit. In a running guide released by the city of Daejeon in March 2026, this place was introduced as a beginner-friendly course with a circular asphalt track centered on the plaza, drinking fountains, and convenience facilities.

If you are only walking, 40 to 60 minutes is appropriate including the plaza and Expo Bridge; if you extend the route to Hanbat Arboretum, allow 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours. Runners and cyclists share the same space as pedestrians, so it is best to slow down, and especially on weekend afternoons and during festival periods, avoid full-speed sprints on straight sections. The public Wi-Fi, DJ_Public_WiFi, is also installed on the right side of the plaza building entrance and in the outdoor area.

• Walking focus: Plaza → Movable Shelter → Expo Bridge → return to Plaza
• Running focus: Repeat the sports track, but switch to walking speed in crowded sections in front of event stages
• Cycling focus: Check the availability and rental conditions of the bike rental station separately on the day of your visit

Expo Bridge Lighting from Sunset to 11 PM and the Outdoor Fountain from May to October

Expo Bridge is a symbolic feature that connects the eastern route of the plaza to the Gapcheon River scenery. According to Daejeon Tourism Organization standards, the landscape lighting is on from sunset to 11 PM throughout the year. If you are planning night photography or an evening walk, it is more efficient to depart from the plaza before sunset and move to the bridge when the lights come on, rather than leaving only after dark.

The outdoor fountain measures 42 m × 24 m, and the stated operating period is from May to October. However, the fountain and the Expo Bridge music fountain may change depending on weather and site conditions. On summer evenings, many visitors may want to stay near the water, so avoid electronics that can easily get wet and slippery shoes, and judge the actual operation status based on on-site guidance for that day.

A 2-Hour Route Linking Hanbat Arboretum and Daejeon Museum of Art from Dunsan-daero 169

The address is 169 Dunsan-daero, Seo-gu, Daejeon Metropolitan City. Hanbat Arboretum is to the south of the plaza, and the Daejeon Museum of Art is nearby, making it easy to combine outdoor activities and indoor exhibitions on the same day. On days when rain or the midday heat of midsummer makes staying in the plaza difficult, it is practical to first decide on museum time and then come out to the plaza and Expo Bridge when the weather becomes milder.

For public transportation, guidance suggests going from Exit 3 of Government Complex Daejeon Station to in front of Dunsan Police Station, then transferring to bus routes 301, 318, or 705 to use the Expo Science Park stop or the Expo Art Hall stop. The Expo Science Park stop is served by routes 301, 318, 606, and 918, and the Expo Art Hall stop is served by routes 121, 705, and 911. The plaza itself is wide and flat, but wheelchair and stroller routes may vary depending on event installations and crowds, so it is advisable to inquire in advance on large event days.

• Combine with Hanbat Arboretum: 40 to 60 minutes at the plaza + 60 minutes or more at the arboretum
• Combine with Daejeon Museum of Art: Add separate museum time for a half-day itinerary
• Night view focus on Expo Bridge: Arrive at the plaza before sunset and secure a route home before 11 PM

Why Admission Is Free and Open 24/7, but the Winter Ice Rink Operates Separately

Daejeon Expo Citizens' Plaza itself is free and open 24 hours a day, so there is no regular closing day. However, the outdoor ice rink and ice sledding area created in winter are separate paid, session-based facilities. During the season that ran from December 19, 2025 to February 8, 2026, Mondays were closed and a session system from 10:00 to 20:00 was applied. In other words, you should not think of plaza visits and seasonal facility use under the same rules.

Based on the winter season guide, parking was free for 3 hours, then 600 KRW per 15 minutes, and the contact number was 042-472-1417. This was the operating standard for the ice rink season, so it cannot be taken as the usual parking policy for general plaza visits. For inquiries about plaza facilities, contact Daejeon Tourism Organization at 042-250-1408 or Expo Science Park at 042-250-1115, and before departure, it is a good idea to recheck access and parking conditions depending on events, rentals, and seasonal facilities.

The plaza has limited shade and indoor waiting space compared with indoor tourist attractions. On hot summer days, you need to prepare a hat, water, and sun protection, and in winter you should separately confirm the usual plaza use and ice rink reservation rules. On the other hand, if your goal is a flat track and wide open space, it is easy to fit in a short visit without an entry reservation.