Gapcheon Stream

Rising on Daedunsan and flowing through Daejeon into the Geumgang River, the Gapcheon Stream is the city's best-loved riverside promenade. The stretch in front of the Chungnam National University and KAIST campuses in particular has wide grassy banks, cycle paths and willow shade, and is busy with walkers and runners at any time of day. Despite running through the city, it shelters a wetland where otters live, and in 2023 part of it was designated a national inland wetland protected area.

73.7 km from Daedunsan to the Geumgang

The stream rises on the slopes of Daedunsan (878 m) in Geumsan County, South Chungcheong, and only takes the name Gapcheon after passing through the Sudak Valley and Sudak Reservoir. In Daejeon it forms the boundary between the Yuseong, Seo and Daedeok districts as it flows north, takes in the Yudeungcheon and Daejeoncheon streams near Samcheon-dong and joins the main Geumgang River near Bongsan-dong. At 73.7 km, it is a direct tributary of the Geumgang.

A wetland in the city

The stretch beside Wolpyeong Park on Dosolsan in Seo-gu is home to about 490 species of plants and animals, including endangered ones such as the otter, the Miho spine loach and the leopard cat. The Miho spine loach is a freshwater fish found only in Korea, living in clear streams with sandy beds. In June 2023 the Ministry of Environment designated about 0.9 km² of it as national inland wetland protected area No. 31. This stretch had been the subject of a long dispute between development and conservation ever since a riverside expressway was proposed along its right bank in 1998.

Things to do by the river

• Walking and cycling paths: paths and dedicated cycle lanes follow the banks. Towards Daedeok Bridge and the Expo Bridge you see Expo Science Park and the Hanbit Tower across the water. Both were built for the 1993 Taejon Expo, so the riverside view also tells the story of Daejeon's growth as a science city.
• Campus riverbanks: the lawns and tree shade in front of Chungnam National University and KAIST are a favourite picnic spot.
• Gapcheon Nuri-gil: a 39.9 km walking route from the Expo Bridge past Jeungchon Village in Pyeongchon-dong to Jangtaesan. The Expo Bridge–Gasuwon Bridge stretch includes a natural river section and Wolpyeong Park.

Tripto tips

• Time needed: 1–2 hours to walk or run from the campuses to the Expo Bridge; by bike you can go much further.
• Fees: the riverside is free and open at all times.
• Cycling: no bike? Rent one from Tashu, Daejeon's public bike-sharing scheme, and ride the riverside cycle paths.
• Getting there: you can walk straight down to the river from Expo Science Park, Hanbat Arboretum or the Yuseong hot-spring area. The National Science Museum and Daejeon Shinsegae Art & Science are also close.
• When to go: around sunset, when the Expo Bridge and Hanbit Tower light up. Some stretches have little shade, so on summer days go in the morning or evening.
• Watch out for: riverside paths can flood after heavy rain. In the wetland protected area, stay on marked paths.
• Nearby: the Yuseong hot-spring foot bath, Yurim Park and Hanbat Arboretum.