Daejeon

Daejeon (Korean: 대전; Korean pronunciation: [tɛdʑʌn] ) is South Korea's fifth-largest metropolis, with a population of nearly 1.5 million. Located in a central lowland valley between the Sobaek Mountains and the Geum River, the city is known both as a technology and research center, and for its close relationship with the natural environment. Daejeon is a major transportation hub, having developed as a railway town, and is approximately 50 minutes from Seoul by KTX or SRT high speed rail. Daejeon (along with Seoul, Gwacheon and Sejong City) is one of South Korea's administration hubs. The city is home to 23 universities and colleges, including Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and Chungnam National University, as well as government research institutes, and research and development centers for many chaebols such as Samsung and LG, mostly located in the city's Daedeok Innopolis. From the 1980s, multiple national administrative functions were moved from Seoul to Daejeon, most of which are now located in the Government Complex, resulting in another population increase. It was elevated to the status of metropolitan city in 1989. The city was a sub host for the 1986 Asian Games, hosted the Expo '93, and the 2000 International Mathematical Olympiad and will be the main host city of the 2027 Summer World University Games. Daejeon is situated in a lowland valley with three major rivers, all of them eventually flowing into the Yellow Sea by way of the Geum River. The city is surrounded by several small mountains, and is located approximately 170 km (106 mi) south of Seoul, 290 km (180 mi) north of Busan, and 70 km (43 mi) east of the Yellow Sea. It experiences a monsoon-influenced, four-season climate with wet, hot summers and drier, cold winters. Daejeon is bordered to the east by Boeun...