About 16,000 residents take part in hands-on disaster preparedness drills
"We learned what to do in a disaster — by actually doing it." That was the reaction of residents who took part in Daejeon's urban safety experience event.
Daejeon wrapped up the 10th Safe Daejeon Safety Experience Festival on Saturday after a two-day run Friday and Saturday at Expo Citizens' Square, drawing a strong turnout from the public.
About 16,000 residents participated in more than 50 hands-on programs, working through elevator safety, vehicle rollover simulations, CPR education, fire extinguisher use and water safety drills — reinforcing the importance of safety and gaining practical knowledge to protect themselves in various emergencies. Participants who completed 10 programs also received a Kkumdori keychain.
A range of side events drew strong crowds as well, including an exhibition of safety-themed drawings and webtoons submitted to a public contest, random dance and busking performances, magic and taekwondo demonstrations, an AI robot Go match and a four-shot photo booth.
On Saturday, 200 children who had advanced to the finals of the 2026 Safe Daejeon Children's Safety Golden Bell competition showcased their safety knowledge. An awards ceremony followed, with prizes presented to the quiz champion and recipients recognized for contributions to safety culture. The festival closed with a pop-opera performance and a celebratory magic show.
"Now in its 10th year, the Safe Daejeon Safety Experience Festival has grown beyond simple education into a signature safety culture event where residents learn through experience and feel firsthand why safety matters," a city official said. "We will do our utmost to build a convenient and safe city so that not a single moment of our residents' everyday lives is put at risk."
kwonhl@heraldcorp.com
