Dong District, Daejeon

Dong

동구
Dong 동구
Autonomous District
Korean transcription(s)
• Hanja	東區
• Revised Romanization	Dong-gu
• McCune–Reischauer	Tong-gu
	Flag
Country	South Korea
Region	Hoseo
Provincial level	Daejeon
Administrative divisions	16 administrative dong
Government
• Mayor	Park Hee-jo(박희조)
Area
• Total	136.61 km2 (52.75 sq mi)
Population (2024)
• Total	218,640
• Density	1,600/km2 (4,100/sq mi)
• Dialect	Chungcheong
Website	Dong District Office

Dong District (Korean: 동구; RR: Dong-gu) is a district in Daejeon, South Korea. Dong-gu consists of a total of 16 dongs, including Yongun-dong, Hyo-dong, and Sannae-dong.^[2]

To the east, the district borders Okcheon, Daedeok District, and Jung District. To the south, it borders Geumsan, South Chungcheong Province, and to the north, it borders Cheongwon and northern Okcheon.^[3]

Tourism

Sikjangsan

Night view of Sikjangsan Observatory

Sikjangsan Mountain (Korean: 식장산) is 596.7m above sea level and has an 11.2 km walking trail. There are traditional temples such as Gujeolsa Temple and Gosansa Temple. The city designated Secheon Park, which contains many ruins of Sikjangsan Mountain, as a natural habitat conservation forest.^[4]

Daecheongho Lake

Daecheong Dam

Daecheongho Lake (Korean: 대청호) is an artificial lake created by damming the Geumgang with Daecheong Dam and is the third largest lake in South Korea. In particular, there are migratory birds and egrets due to the clean natural environment. Daecheong Lake's Hoeinseon Cherry Blossom Road is a 26.6 km long cherry blossom road. It is one of the beautiful cherry blossom roads selected by the Korea National Arboretum.^[5]

Jungang Market

Daejeon Jungang Market

Daejeon Jungang Market (Korean: 대전 중앙시장), located near Daejeon Station, was the largest traditional market in the central region. There are themed streets within the market, examples of which include Bookstore Street, Fish Market Street, Tableware Wholesale Street, Accessory Street, Home Interior Street, and Food Street.^[6]

Economy

Dong District (Dong-gu) is often regarded as the most underdeveloped area in Daejeon. However, it wasn’t always this way—Dong-gu once served as the central hub of the city. Its decline began in the 1990s, when the western areas of Daejeon, such as Seo-gu and Yuseong-gu, underwent significant development. The construction of the Dunsan New Town, along with the relocation of the Daejeon Government Complex and other key government offices, public institutions, businesses, and shops to this area, led to the gradual decline of Dong-gu, which had previously been the city’s original downtown.