Transportation to Venue [IBS]
Daejeon does not have its own international airport. The main gateway for international participants is Incheon International Airport (ICN), located near Seoul, approximately 170 km north of Daejeon. The airport has two terminals (T1 and T2); your arrival terminal depends on your airline. Below are the recommended ways to reach the venue.
Option 1 — Train: AREX + KTX (recommended, approx. 2.5 hours)
The fastest way to reach Daejeon. Combine the AREX airport railroad with the KTX high-speed train.
- AREX (Incheon Airport → Seoul Station): Board the AREX at the Transportation Center (B1F) of your terminal. The Express Train runs non-stop to Seoul Station in 45–55 minutes (KRW 9,500, about every 40 minutes, roughly 05:20–22:45). The All-Stop Train takes about 60–66 minutes.
- KTX (Seoul Station → Daejeon Station): Transfer at Seoul Station to a KTX train bound for Busan/Daejeon. The ride takes about 50–65 minutes. Purchase a ticket to “Daejeon” Station, not “Seodaejeon” Station. Tickets can be booked up to one month in advance on the Korail website.
- Taxi (Daejeon Station → venue): Exit through the front entrance (Exit 1) and take a taxi from the taxi stand. The ride is about 8 km / 20 minutes and costs around KRW 10,000.
Tip: allow sufficient time for the transfer at Seoul Station, especially during peak hours.
Option 2 — Airport Limousine Bus (direct, approx. 2.5–3 hours)
A direct and comfortable option with no transfers and ample luggage space.
- Bus stops at the airport: Terminal 1 — 1st floor, stop No. 11A; Terminal 2 — Transportation Center B1, stop No. 5.
- Route: Incheon Airport T2 → T1 → North Daejeon IC → Daedeok Community Center → Daejeon Government Complex (“Daejeon Cheongsa”) → Daejeon Bus Terminal.
- Where to get off: the venue area is closest to the Daejeon Government Complex stop. From there, take a taxi (about 10–15 minutes) to the venue.
- The journey takes approximately 2.5–3 hours depending on traffic.
Option 3 — Taxi / Private Car (approx. 2.5 hours)
For maximum convenience, regular and deluxe taxis are available at designated stands at the airport, and private car services can be booked in advance. Expect roughly KRW 200,000–250,000 for a regular taxi and KRW 300,000 or more for a deluxe taxi or private car. Suitable for groups or participants with heavy luggage, though traffic can cause delays.
Getting to the Venue within Daejeon
The venue is the IBS Science Culture Center on the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) campus, in the Expo Science Park area. It is within walking distance of the Lotte City Hotel, Hotel ICC, and Hotel Onoma. Taxis typically drop passengers off at the IBS front gate.
Most taxi drivers do not speak English. Please show the driver the following message:
기초과학연구원 과학문화센터로 가주세요.
(대전광역시 유성구 엑스포로 55)
“Please take me to the IBS Science Culture Center, 55 Expo-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon.”
Note: Google Maps has limited navigation functionality in Korea. We recommend installing Naver Map or Kakao Map (both offer English interfaces) for local directions.