Jinju Lantern Festival 2027: Dates, Tickets & How to Get There

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.

2027 dates are estimated at 3 to 18 October, consistent with the festival’s recent 16-day run starting on Gaecheonjeol (National Foundation Day, 3 October). Official 2027 dates are typically announced by Jinju Cultural Foundation in May 2027 - verify at yudeung.com before booking travel.

What to expect

The festival runs across approximately 16 evenings, 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 (yudeung.com). 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. 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.

Where to stay

Jinju city centre has limited accommodation, and the best options fill several weeks before the festival. The practical alternatives:

Option	Distance to festival	Notes
Jinju city hotels (near Jinjuseong)	5–15 min walk	Book 6–8 weeks ahead; stock limited
Changwon	15 min by bus	Larger city, more accommodation; easy shuttle
Busan	1 hr by bus	Full city amenities; viable for day trips

Recommended accommodation in Jinju:

• Jinju Tourist Hotel - from approximately 80,000 KRW; central location, closest to festival grounds
• Hotel InterBurgo Jinju - from approximately 100,000 KRW; the city’s most reliable mid-range option
• Guesthouses near Nam River - from approximately 50,000 KRW; basic but walkable to the festival; book early

If Jinju accommodation is fully booked, basing yourself in Changwon (창원) and taking the inter-city bus (approximately 15 minutes, 2,000–3,000 KRW) is the standard local workaround.

Photography tips

The festival creates genuinely unusual photographic opportunities:

• Best light: The first 45 minutes after lighting - typically from 19:00 to 19:45 - offer warm ambient light combined with illuminated lanterns. Full darkness reduces background context.
• Jinjuseong Fortress wall: Shooting from the fortress wall above the river gives an elevated view of the entire lantern display. Entry is free during the festival and the elevated angle avoids the crowd-level viewpoint.
• Floating lantern releases: Families releasing personal paper lanterns at the river edge make for close-up shots with soft, warm light - position yourself near the designated release areas from around 20:00.
• Reflection shots: The river reflections of structural lanterns are sharpest on calm, still evenings. Wind breaks up the reflection; check the forecast.
• Lens: A 24–70mm equivalent is versatile. Long exposures (2–4 seconds) on a tripod capture the flowing river with light trails from passing lanterns.

For a wider look at planning travel across South Gyeongsang Province, see our practical travel guide.

Visiting South Korea for the lantern season? Browse South Korea tours and guided experiences on GetYourGuide to build a fuller itinerary around the Jinju visit.