Jinju Nam River Lantern Festival. · 2026 · Historical listing

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Information for this edition

Dates

Oct 3, 2026 — Oct 18, 2026

Place

Jinjuseong Fortress and surrounding areas of the Nam River, Jinju City, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea. Address: 626 Namgang-ro, Bonseong-dong, Jinju City.

Admission at the time

Free

Published hours at the time

13:00~23:00

Facts last checked

2026-10-18

First preserved here

2026-10-10

Published programme

The tradition of releasing floating lanterns (유등) originated during the Jinju Fortress Battle, one of the three major battles of the Imjin War. At that time, lanterns were floated down the Nam River to serve as a military signal for communication between the soldiers inside the fortress and the local militia outside, as well as a means of conveying news to families. The citizens of Jinju have upheld this tradition, and since 1949, the "Gaecheon Art Festival," which served as the precursor to Korea's regional comprehensive arts festivals, has included a "Lantern Festival" as one of its programs. Since 2000, the "Lantern Festival" has been held independently as the "Jinju Nam River Lantern Festival." The Lantern Festival, originally a celebration of the citizens' hopes for peace, love, happiness, and the fulfillment of their wishes, has evolved into a global festival that shares the values of peace with people around the world. Every autumn, in Jinju, the "City of Light and Peace," a spectacular display of lanterns illuminates the Nam River and the Jinju Fortress, offering a beautiful sight while also reminding us of the historical significance embedded within them.

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