DAEJEON — Giant nighttime balloon sculptures of Kkumdori and Kkumsuni, Daejeon's signature mascots, will serve as tourism ambassadors for the city, standing about 13 meters tall.
The city government said on the 26th that, together with the Daejeon Tourism Organization, it would display the oversized nighttime balloon sculptures at Gapcheon Ecological Lake Park and Hanbat Arboretum in stages from August through November.
The sculptures will first be installed at Gapcheon Ecological Lake Park through October 14. There, they will greet residents and visitors as a nighttime photo spot set against the park's newly created waterfront landscape. From October 17 to November 20, they will move to the lawn plaza at Hanbat Arboretum. The city plans to tie the display to events that draw domestic and international visitors — including the Daejeon Bread Festival, the Daejeon International Wine Expo and the World Solar Conference — to showcase its mascots and the appeal of night tourism.
During the Bread Festival, held from October 16 to 18, the city will also operate the "2026 Delight Expo Bridge" at the nearby Expo Bridge. To encourage visitors to stay into the night while enjoying the night views of the Gapcheon stream and the Expo Bridge, the program will feature relaxation spaces, a Kkumdori-themed photo zone, moon boat rides, a nighttime drone show and a silent music-listening program. Related events, including sales of Kkumdori merchandise, will also be held.
The city plans to link the giant Kkumdori and Kkumsuni sculptures at Hanbat Arboretum with the Expo Bridge night tourism attractions into a single tourism zone, creating a route that runs from "bread festival by day to night tourism by night" and extending how long visitors stay.
Daejeon Mayor Heo Tae-jeong said the giant Kkumdori and Kkumsuni balloon sculptures would take the city's night views to a higher level. "We will build a stay-oriented tourism environment in which daytime festivals lead into nighttime tourism," the mayor said.
