Jinju Lantern Festival 2026

The Jinju Lantern Festival (Yudeung Festival) is held on and along the Nam River in Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province, each October. The festival commemorates the 1592 Battle of Jinju, one of the defining engagements of the Imjin War against the Japanese invasion. According to historical accounts, lanterns were floated down the Nam River both to signal between Korean forces and to confuse the Japanese troops. The modern festival revives this tradition on a substantial scale, with thousands of paper lanterns lit across the river surface each night.

What to expect

The festival runs across 10 evenings, typically from around 7 pm until midnight. The centrepiece is the Nam River itself, where illuminated lantern installations of considerable scale are moored along both banks. These include large structural lanterns shaped as animals, historical figures, mythological creatures and scenes from Korean history, each lit from within. Floating smaller paper lanterns on the river is available as a paid activity, with lanterns available to purchase on site for around 3,000 to 5,000 KRW.

Separate from the river displays, the festival grounds on the riverbanks host traditional performance stages, folk game areas, food vendors and craft stalls. The Jinju Fortress (Jinjuseong), which overlooks the Nam River and was the site of the original battle, is open during the festival and worth visiting in daylight before the evening lantern viewing.

Tickets and admission

Entry to the festival grounds and lantern viewing areas is ticketed. Prices in recent years have been in the range of 5,000 to 10,000 KRW per person, with discounts for children. Tickets can be purchased at the gate or in advance through the official festival website. The river viewing areas get genuinely crowded on weekend evenings, so arriving before 6 pm secures better vantage points.

Getting to Jinju

Jinju does not have a KTX station as of 2026. The most practical route from Seoul is an express bus from Seoul Nambu Terminal to Jinju Bus Terminal, taking approximately 3 hours 30 minutes. From Busan, intercity buses reach Jinju in about 1 hour. From the bus terminal, taxis or local buses reach the festival site in 10 to 15 minutes.

October evenings on the Nam River can be cool, with temperatures dropping to 10 to 13°C after dark. Bring a warm layer and wear comfortable shoes for standing and walking on uneven riverside ground. For a wider look at planning travel across South Gyeongsang Province, see our practical travel guide.