From a 1964 Citizen Fundraiser to a 2025 Accessible Route for People with Disabilities, Hanbat Sports Complex

Busa-dong, which began as a dirt mound in 1959 and led to a baseball stadium in 1964

Busa-dong, below Bomun Mountain where the Hanbat Sports Complex is located, was the place where construction of the Daejeon Public Sports Complex began in 1959. At the time, when Daejeon residents lacked a comprehensive stadium for athletes competing in national competitions, they raised funds to support the creation of an athletics stadium, tennis courts, and volleyball courts, and the Hanbat Baseball Stadium opened in 1964.

"Hanbat" began to be widely used when the name of the Daejeon Public Sports Complex was changed to Hanbat Sports Complex to highlight Daejeon's local identity. After professional baseball began in 1982, Hanbat Baseball Stadium was the venue used by the OB Bears until 1985, the Binggrae Eagles from 1986, and the Hanwha Eagles from 1993; professional baseball games have now moved to the nearby Daejeon Hanwha Life Ballpark.

A multi-sports complex where the main stadium, Chungmu Gymnasium, and Hanbat Swimming Pool coexist

Hanbat Sports Complex is not a tourist site for viewing a single facility, but a public sports complex where multiple sports facilities such as the main stadium, athletics auxiliary stadium, Chungmu Gymnasium, Hanbat Gymnasium, Hanbat Swimming Pool, tennis courts, and gateball courts are gathered on one site. Because routes and accessible areas may vary depending on event and rental schedules, if you plan to watch a game or use the facilities, it is safer to first check the day’s rental status.

The athletics stadium received Class 1 certification from the Korea Association of Athletics Federations during the 2009 National Sports Festival, and in 2014 it was recertified after track repairs and maintenance of 2,504 certified sports equipment items across 46 categories. Therefore, the core of this place is not only the old baseball stadium, but also the athletics and indoor-event infrastructure that has hosted nationwide sporting events in Daejeon’s old downtown.

• Rental and facility inquiries: 042-724-3212
• Hanbat Swimming Pool inquiries: 042-724-3251~2
• Facility reservations: available through the integrated reservation system of the Daejeon Facilities Management Corporation

Hanbat Swimming Pool: weekdays 06:00~21:00, weekends and holidays 06:00~18:00

The facility individual visitors can use most concretely is Hanbat Swimming Pool. According to the official guide, operating hours are 06:00~21:00 on weekdays and 06:00~18:00 on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays. Free swimming entry is allowed only until one hour before closing, and swimmers must leave the pool 30 minutes before closing time.

Regular closures are the first, third, and fifth Sundays of every month, New Year’s Day, Lunar New Year holidays, Chuseok holidays, Buddha’s Birthday, and Christmas. Temporary closures due to election days or facility circumstances are also possible, so you should check whether your travel date overlaps with a closure day. If your purpose is to use the pool, it is a good idea to prepare personal items such as a swimsuit and swim cap.

• Swimming lessons are arranged on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays in time slots such as 06:10~07:00, 07:10~08:00, 09:10~10:00, 10:10~11:00, 15:00~15:50, 17:00~17:50, and 19:00~19:50.
• The monthly free-swimming fee is 52,000 won for adults, 38,000 won for teenagers, and 29,000 won for children.
• Children may enter only if they are at least 130 cm tall.

First-come, first-served registration from the 25th to the end of each month and Hanbat Swimming Pool refund rules

Swimming lesson registration is conducted online and on-site on a first-come, first-served basis from the 25th to the end of each month, and on-site additional registration is available only in person from the 1st to the 5th of each month. If the registration start date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or public holiday, it begins at 6:00 a.m. on the next weekday.

If you cancel by the last day of the previous month, before lessons begin, a full refund is given. After the start date, however, a refund is issued after deducting 10% of the total payment and the amount corresponding to the elapsed days. Holders of disability certificates, persons of national merit and their spouses/survivors, recipients of basic livelihood benefits, and those aged 65 or older are eligible for a 50% discount, and supporting documents and ID must be presented.

• Adult swimming lesson fee: 62,000 won for 4 sessions per week
• Teen swimming lesson fee: 48,000 won for 4 sessions per week
• Senior care class for those aged 65 or older: 31,000 won for 4 sessions per week
• Aquarobics: 62,000 won for 3 sessions per week

How to enter through the main gate at 373 Daejong-ro and the "Hanbat Sports Complex" bus stop

The address is 373 Daejong-ro, Jung-gu, Daejeon, and you can get there from Daejeon Station by taxi or by city bus, getting off at the "Hanbat Sports Complex" bus stop and approaching the main gate. Route O52 is described as a line that connects from Sanjeong Village through Gaodong to Hanbat Sports Complex, Daehunggyo Bridge, and Daejeon Station Donggwang Plaza.

It is not directly adjacent to a station on Daejeon Metro Line 1, so if you are traveling with large luggage or swimming equipment, it is more convenient to set the bus stop or taxi drop-off point to the main gate. Since the main stadium, gymnasium, and swimming pool may have different entrances even within the same complex, you should verify the name of your destination facility again on the sign or reservation screen.

• Road-name address: 373 Daejong-ro, Jung-gu, Daejeon
• Main rental inquiry: 042-724-3212
• Swimming pool inquiry: 042-724-3251~2
• Official website: https://www.djsiseol.or.kr

Parking and viewing environment improved for people with disabilities with a dedicated route added in 2025

As part of a national funding project in 2025, improvements to accessibility facilities were promoted at Chungmu Gymnasium, including the creation of family restrooms and the installation of safety railings in the viewing area for people with disabilities. Chungmu Gymnasium is a building that is 55 years old after completion, and the improvements are meaningful as work to bring outdated facilities up to disability accessibility standards.

After the completion of Daejeon Hanwha Life Ballpark, a dedicated route for people with disabilities was installed so that users could move to facilities closer to the parking spaces designated for people with disabilities across the Hanbat Sports Complex. Wheelchair users should note that temporary routes and open viewing areas may differ depending on the event, so it is advisable to call 042-724-3212 before visiting, inform them of your destination facility and intended time of use, and confirm in advance.

60 to 90 minutes to read the stadium itself after the final season of professional baseball

Hanbat Baseball Stadium recorded 804,204 spectators in Hanwha Eagles’ final home season, with an average of 11,327 per game, and set a KBO League record with 47 sellouts. However, after the new Daejeon Hanwha Life Ballpark opened in March 2025, regular professional baseball games are no longer held at the former Hanbat Baseball Stadium.

Therefore, rather than visiting this place only with expectations of watching a baseball game, it is more appropriate to approach it as a site that shows how the 1960s public sports complex, which began with fundraising by Daejeon citizens, has connected to today’s swimming, athletics, and indoor sports facilities. If you are only looking around the outdoor area and not using Hanbat Swimming Pool, 60 to 90 minutes is enough; if you include free swimming at the pool, it is realistic to allow 2 to 3 hours including preparation and shower time.