Daedong Sky Park

Stand next to the red windmill on this hilltop, less than 2 km east of Daejeon Station, and the city centre spreads out below you. Daedong, a hillside shanty district built by refugees during the Korean War, has become a mural village, and at its very top, about 127 m above sea level, sits a small viewing park. People climb the lanes for the sunset between a pair of twin towers and for a gentle, unshowy night view.

From refugee hillside to mural village

Daedong grew up during the war as refugees built houses on any free scrap of slope. Homes were so cramped that families grew vegetables in rubber basins on the steps. In 2007 the area won a place in a government public-art programme, and some 30 artists, led by a local art group, spent about three months creating murals and sculptures together with residents and children. Daejeon's "Rainbow Project" then created the Sky Park at the top of the village, the murals were extensively renewed in 2014, and the park itself was refurbished again in November 2024.

What to look out for

• Windmill viewpoint: the windmill on the highest point of Daedong is the park's symbol. It was originally made of wood; in the 2024 makeover it became a red windmill decorated with Kkumdori, the mascot of the Daejeon Expo.
• City view: from the windmill you look straight at the railway twin towers shared by Korail and the Korea National Railway, and across Dong-gu. On clear days the ridges of Bomunsan and Gyeryongsan line up behind.
• Sunset: on some days the sun goes down right between the twin towers, so early evening is the busiest time. After dark the city lights come on one by one, a calm rather than spectacular night view.
• Lovers' Rock (Yeonae-bawi): in the days when tiny homes left no private space, couples met at this rock. From the top you could see anyone coming, but from below no one could see who was on it.
• Mural lanes: murals tell the story of Haneul-i, an otter character, and one of them comes to life when viewed through an augmented-reality (AR) app.

Remember people live here

The mural village is still a residential neighbourhood. The lanes are narrow and steep, with windows and front doors opening straight onto the path. Keep house interiors out of your photos, and avoid late-night visits and loud conversation. Themed cafés with views have also opened in the lanes leading to the park.

Tripto tips

• Getting there: the park is about 800 m in a straight line from Daedong Station on Daejeon Metro Line 1, mostly up sloping lanes. From Daejeon Station (KTX) it is about 1.7 km, also walkable.
• Time needed: 60–90 minutes to walk up through the mural lanes and rest at the windmill.
• Best time of day: arrive 30–60 minutes before sunset to see the sunset and the night view in one go. It is also recommended as a place to watch the last sunset of the year.
• Opening: it is a neighbourhood park, open all year.
• Watch out for: plenty of steps and steep slopes, so wear comfortable shoes and take care on the way down after dark. There is nowhere convenient to park in the village lanes, so come by public transport or on foot.