Daejeon National Cemetery

Daejeon National Cemetery is the resting place of people who gave their lives for, or served, the nation: around 150,000 are interred on grounds of about 3.3 km² (one million pyeong, a traditional Korean unit). Independence activists, fallen soldiers, police officers and firefighters who died on duty and a former president lie here, so a walk through the cemetery is a walk through modern Korean history. Its forest paths on the slopes of the Gyeryongsan range make it a calm place for remembrance and reflection.

Why Daejeon?

The national cemetery opened in Seoul in 1955 (today's Seoul National Cemetery) was running out of space after about twenty years. In 1974 the armed forces decided to build a second national cemetery in central Korea, and in 1976 they chose Gap-dong in what was then Daedeok County, South Chungcheong (now Yuseong District, Daejeon). Work began in 1979 and was completed in 1985; the site took its current name in 1996. Since 2023 it has been run by the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs.

What to see

• Hyeonchungmun Gate and the Memorial Tower: the heart of the cemetery. The gate, built in 1983 in the style of a traditional hanok, leads to the Memorial Tower and is where visitors compose themselves before paying respects.
• The burial sections: areas for independence patriots, persons of national merit, generals, officers, enlisted soldiers, police and firefighters spread along the hillsides. Former president Choi Kyu-hah rests in the Heads of State section. Here too are Na Woon-gyu, director of Arirang, often called the first Korean feature film, Sohn Kee-chung, gold medallist in the marathon at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, and Yun Seok-jung, who wrote the lyrics of many beloved children's songs. Hong Beom-do, one of the leaders of the independence army victories at Bongo-dong and Cheongsanri, was brought here from Kazakhstan for reburial.
• Cheonan and Yeonpyeong sections: separate sections hold the crew of the corvette Cheonan and the sailors killed in the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong.
• Around the Hoguk Railway Memorial Hall: the cemetery enshrines memorial tablets for 150 railway workers killed during the Korean War while carrying supplies and refugees. A Mikado-type steam locomotive is displayed next to the memorial hall.
• Outdoor displays and Bohun Future Hall: retired fighter jets, field guns and railway cars are shown outdoors. The Bohun Future Hall is open 09:30–17:30 (last entry 17:00).
• Bohun Dulle-gil trail: forest paths along the cemetery in seven sections, colour-coded from red to violet, which is why it is also called the "Rainbow Trail". The gentle gradients and shade make it manageable for older visitors and children, passing pine and bamboo groves and a viewpoint.

Good to know

The man-made pond Hyeonchungji inside the cemetery is shaped like the Korean Peninsula. The grounds are also known for spring flowers and autumn leaves, so many local people come for a seasonal walk as well as to pay their respects.

Tripto tips

• Opening hours: the main gate is open 06:00–18:00 from March to October and 07:00–18:00 from November to February, every day. Admission and parking are free.
• Getting there: from Hyeonchungwon Station on Daejeon Metro Line 1, take the "Bohun Mosimi" shuttle from exit 2 or city bus 107 or 48 from exit 3, about five minutes. On weekends and public holidays bus 102 runs to the main gate. From Daejeon Station, bus 107 takes about 50 minutes.
• Holidays: traffic is heavy on Seollal, Hansik, Memorial Day (6 June) and Chuseok, so use public transport.
• Etiquette: walk quietly among the graves. Pets, incense, candles and cooking are not allowed.
• Time needed: allow 1 hour for the Memorial Tower and main sections, 2 to 3 hours if you add the trail.