Daejeon — The ’Silicon Valley of Korea’
Often referred to as the ‘Silicon Valley of Korea,’ Daejeon is a vibrant metropolis located in the heart of South Korea. Home to KAIST (the MIT of Korea), it’s a city renowned for its science and technology, hosting numerous research institutes and universities.
Surrounded by mountains and with beautiful hike and bike trails along the Gapcheon River, Daejeon also offers a rich cultural tapestry, with a growing number of museums and art galleries, festivals, the Daejeon Expo Science Park Area and O-World, cafes and restaurants. This city of 1.5M boasts a pleasant climate with four distinct seasons, making it an attractive destination year-round.
Daejeon is also known for its relatively affordable cost of living compared to other major South Korean cities, coupled with a robust job market driven by its thriving research and development sector. It is also arguably the most convenient city for travel. Being in the center of the country, you can reach Seoul or Busan in about 1–1.5 hours via KTX. Its well-developed public transportation system, excellent healthcare system and numerous parks provide a high quality of life for its residents.
Daejeon’s expat community is largely made up of international students, researchers and English teachers. It is famously “quiet.” If you thrive on nightlife and massive shopping districts, you might find yourself heading to Seoul every weekend. For expats who want a peaceful, high-quality life with easy access to nature and the rest of the country, Daejeon is hard to beat!