Jinju Namgang Lantern Festival
🗓️ 2026.10.03 ~ 2026.10.18
The Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival is a profound cultural experience that blends historical commemoration with modern artistic expression. To understand the event, one must look to its origins during the Battle of Jinju Fortress—one of the three major victories of the Imjin War—where floating lamps, or yudeung, were utilized on the Namgang River as critical military signals to communicate with righteous armies stationed outside the fortress walls and as a poignant method for family members to convey greetings to one another.
This tradition was preserved by the citizens of Jinju through the ‘Yudeung Contest,’ a component of the ‘Gaecheon Arts Festival’ that began in 1949 and served as the precursor to the comprehensive regional arts festivals now seen across Korea. While it functioned as a subset of a larger event for decades, the celebration has been held independently as the ‘Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival’ since 2000. Today, the act of floating lanterns has been sublimated into a global pursuit of peace, love, and happiness, allowing visitors from across the world to share in the fulfillment of collective wishes. Every autumn, the “City of Light and Peace” transforms the Namgang River and the Jinju Fortress area into a luminous spectacle that invites visitors to reflect on the historical gravity contained within the scenery.
Event Programming
The festival is structured to offer a variety of visual and interactive experiences, ranging from large-scale installations to individual participation.
1. Main Programs
The core of the festival consists of massive visual displays, including both floating lantern exhibitions on the river and land lantern exhibitions throughout the grounds. The experience is further enhanced by modern technology and pyrotechnics via the drone light show and water fireworks.
2. Side Programs
Visitors can witness the night parade, which brings the lanterns to life through movement. Additionally, from October 9th to October 18th, the event coincides with the Gaecheon Arts Festival and the Korea Drama Festival, providing a dense concentration of cultural activity.
3. Consumer Participation Programs
The festival encourages active engagement rather than passive observation. Guests may participate by hanging wish lanterns, releasing their own floating lanterns onto the water, or experiencing the unique sensation of crossing the floating bridge.
4. Other Content
For those seeking a different perspective of the illuminated landscape, cruise ship experiences are available.
*The following festival food information is from the previous year’s (2025) festival; food information for the 2026 festival is currently being updated.*
Visitor Information
📍 Address: 626 Namgang-ro, Jinju-si, Gyeongsangnam-do (Bonseong-dong)
💰 Fee: Free
📞 Inquiry: 055-761-9111, 055-755-9111
🛏️ Accommodation near the event
⭐️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yudeung_festival/
🖥️ Homepage: https://yudeung.com/
The Namgang River runs through Jinju, a city in South Korea’s South Gyeongsang Province. It is part of the Nakdong River system and flows between the old city center and low hills. On its eastern bank stands Uiam Rock, a granite cliff that overlooks a narrow bend in the river. The site was used as a defensive position during the Joseon period, and it remains one of Jinju’s best-known landmarks.
The river is closely tied to the city’s history. During the Imjin War (1592–1598), battles for Jinju Fortress took place along these waters. At night, lanterns were floated downstream to relay signals between military units. This practice is the basis for the annual Jinju Namgang Lantern Festival, held each October. During the festival, hundreds of lanterns are set on the river, ranging from traditional dragons and boats to modern designs. The event also includes ceremonies for those who died in the city’s wars.
For most of the year, the Namgang is an ordinary urban river. Walking and cycling paths run alongside it, and the area around Uiam Rock and Chokseongnu Pavilion is a popular destination. The river is also managed for flood control, with levees and bridges determining much of its course through the city. Its significance comes less from scenery than from the way daily life, history, and infrastructure meet at the water’s edge.
