Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival
진주남강유등축제
The Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival originates from the 16th-century Battle of Jinju Castle during Japan's invasion, when residents lit floating lanterns to repel invaders and convey messages to loved ones. Once designated a representative Korean festival by the Ministry of Culture and selected five consecutive years as a promoted Korean global festival, this prestigious event exports Korean culture worldwide. The main program features floating lanterns, complemented by participatory activities such as crossing the Love Bridge, writing wish lanterns, floating lanterns on water, and boat cruises. Guided tours, local cuisine tastings, and regional product sales enrich the experience.
- Dates
- Oct 3, 2026 → Oct 18, 2026
- Venue
- 626 Namgang-ro, Bonseong-dong, Jinju, Gyeongsangnam-do · ⚓ Gyeongnam
- Price
- Paid
- Ticketing
- Official event site
Practical information
- Opening hours
- 13:00~23:00
- Exact location
- Jinju Castle and Namgang River Area
- Organiser
- Jinju City, Jinju Culture and Arts Foundation
🎟️ How to book — Official event site
- 1
Most regional festivals are free entry
Korean municipalities fund a huge number of free festivals (flowers, food, light shows) — free entry is the norm, not the exception, sometimes with paid stalls or activities on site.
- 2
Check the event's official site
The link sits on the event's VisitKorea page — it's the most reliable source for the program, hours, and any last-minute changes.
- 3
Book via a Korean platform if a reservation is required
When a festival has paid premium activities or an attached concert, booking usually goes through NOL or YES24 — see the matching guide on this page.
- 4
Call 1330 when in doubt
Korea's tourism hotline answers in English, Chinese and Japanese, 24/7 — handy for confirming a time or address when the official site is Korean-only.
💡 Good to know
When a price shows as "see details", the organiser simply hasn't published one in advance: in almost all of those cases entry is free and only some on-site activities are paid. Bring a little cash — many stalls don't take cards.
Around the same dates
Source : TourAPI