Busan will come alive with color and tradition this spring as the city hosts the Busan Lantern Festival, a celebration rooted in Korea’s 1,300-year-old lantern-lighting heritage.

The festival honors Yeondeunghoe, which has been designated as National Important Intangible Cultural Property No. 122, and commemorates Buddha’s Birthday through a series of events designed to promote harmony, prosperity, and cultural preservation.

Yeondeunghoe is a deeply symbolic Korean tradition where communities gather to light lanterns in a shared wish for peace and well-being. The Busan Lantern Festival carries this legacy forward through a variety of main programs and cultural experiences.

The main event, the Busan Lantern Festival, will be held on May 16 at 4:30 p.m. at Dasom Square in Busan Citizens Park.

Attendees can look forward to the Yeonhee Troupe Harmony Festival, the Bongchuk Joint Competition, and the much-anticipated Lantern Parade, which lights up the evening with vibrant color and community spirit.

The Busan Lantern Cultural Festival will run from May 1 to May 17 at Song Sang-hyeon Square.

The schedule includes the Opening Lighting Ceremony on May 1 at 7 p.m., the Traditional Lantern Exhibition from May 1 through May 17, and the Wish Lantern Hanging Experience, also available throughout that period.

What to expect: Busan Destinations: Song Sang Hyeon Square During Buddha’s Birthday

Fleet Chinhae

USAG Daegu