Daejeon Metro

Daejeon Metro is the rapid transit subway facility serving the South Korean city Daejeon. Currently, the system includes a single line connecting 22 stations along a 22.6 km long track. Daejeon Metropolitan Express Transit Corporation is in charge of operating the line. Daily, around 79500 passengers commute through this subway system. After Gwangju, Daegu, Busan, Incheon and Seoul, this is the sixth subway transport system in South Korea.

Historical Background

With a population of 1.5 million, Daejeon is South Korea’s fifth-largest metropolitan area. It is one of the administrative, educational and economic centers of the country. The need for a rapid metro system is such a hub city was inevitable.

The city authority had planned a 5-line metro system with the first line to be operational as early as 2002 to cover the traffic pressure during the Soccer World Cup. However, due to the lack of funds, the project got slowed down and was completed in 2006. The first line started operation from 16th March 2006 with a 12.4 km long track from Panam to Government complex. On 17th April 2007, a further section of 10.4 km was added. It connected Government Complex to Banseok.

The construction of Line 2 was supposed to start in 2008 but was postponed.

Hours of Operation

The Subway is open from 5:30 AM in the morning to the midnight. Trains are available every 8 or 10 minutes. In busy hours, trains run at 4 to 5 minutes intervals. On holidays and weekends, you’ll get lesser number of trains.

Lines and Stations

Line 1 runs from Panam in the north-western part of the city to Banseok in the eastern corner. It includes the Daejeon Station which is near to the old city center. Here passengers can interchange to KTX and Korail. In addition, it also covers most modern and newly developed parts of the city, the city hall and other important government buildings. A complete travel on this line takes around 40 minutes.

The line is well-connected with bus routes and each station has a nearby bus stop. Main stations on this line are:

• Panam
• Daedong
• Daejeon
• Jung-gu Office
• City Hall
• Government Complex-Daejeon
• Wolpyeong
• Yuseong Spa
• National Cemetery
• World Cup Stadium
• Jijok
• Banseok

Future Expansion

Daejeon city authority plans to begin construction of Line 2 soon. It includes both grounds level and above ground stations. The route plan is expected to come out by 2015 and test operation is planned to start in 2018. If this schedule is actually implemented, we should see Line 2 fully in operation since 2021.

Though the authority hasn’t publicly disclosed the technological specifics of the line and the trains, rumor is that the trains are going to be magnetic levitation type similar to Japanese HSST.

Line 2 is conceived as a 30.5 km long ring-shaped line which intersects Line 1 several times. Line 3 will have a 24 km long track and will connect the north-south part of the city. Line 4 is going to be a relatively shorter track (9.7 km). It will run parallel to Line 3 but further towards the west. Line 5 will be a 15.2 km long line connecting the east-west sides of the city. In total, the whole network is planned to have a 102 km long track.

Fare and Tickets

The metro fare is determined on the basis of sections traveled, the age of the traveler and the type of tickets. Section 1 fare category applies when a rider travels up to 10 km from his departure station. In case he travels more, section 2 price is charged.

There are three types of ticketing options: Traffic card, Token and 3S card. However, traffic card seems to be the cheapest alternative among the three. Section 1 fare for an adult (19-64 years) with traffic card is 1250 won, with a token is 1400 won and with 3S card is 1400 won. The amounts change to 1350 won, 1500 won and 1500 won respectively when a passenger travels beyond 10 km.

Youths (13-18 years) and children (6-12 years) pay a portion of adult fare depending on their ticket type. People aged 65 and above, children under age 6, veterans and disabled persons are allowed free ride. If a group of more than 20 children is traveling with an adult guardian, the traffic card rate applies.

Get the details of fare and discounts from Fare Information page.

Facilities and Services

Daejeon Metro authority is committed to offering every passenger an enjoyable ride and that’s why they make available multiple services on the stations and also on the train.

• Every station has its name labeled in Korean and English and it is easy even for a foreign traveler to locate his routes.
• The stations are clean and managed well. They are artistically decorated and host music performances to entertain waiting passengers.
• Located on the Jijok Station, Daejeon Metro Lost and Found Center helps travelers to search for their lost belongings.

Rules

To ensure smooth running of the metro system, the authority has set the following rules:

• Pets are not allowed on the train.
• In the case of a sudden fire break out, passengers shouldn’t try to rupture the doors or get off the train. Rather, they should use the fire extinguishers fitted in the train.
• If any belonging falls on the track, you shouldn’t try to pick it up on your own, rather should contact the station stuff.

Tips

Keep the following points in mind to make the best use of Daejeon Metro service:

• Before leaving the subway, never throw away your ticket. You have to punch it at the exit point again.
• If you don’t understand Korean, follow the English announcements on the station to find your exit.

Map of Daejeon Metro

For details on stations, lines and interchanging possibilities, check out the Daejeon Metro Map. The only operating line is marked with color green.

This post is also available in: Spanish