Travel
Korea Destinations: 2024 Jinju Namgang Lantern Festival to illuminate nights with history and culture
haps magazine korea
October 2, 2024
(Image: Jinju City)
The 2024 Jinju Namgang Lantern Festival will brighten Jinju’s autumn nights from October 5th to October 20th, under the theme “Containing Peace in the River of History.”
Taking place alongside the Gaecheon Arts Festival (October 10-20) and the Korea Drama Festival (October 11-20), the event will transform the city into a vibrant cultural hub, featuring over 70,000 lanterns across an expanded festival area, including the newly opened Jinju Battle Historic Park.
The festival kicks off with a grand lighting ceremony and fireworks show on October 5th.
Throughout the 16-day celebration, visitors can enjoy captivating drone shows on October 5th, 10th, 12th, and 20th, where 1,000 drones will create stunning light displays in the night sky, narrating Jinju’s history and aspirations. Additional fireworks displays will take place on October 10th and 20th, lighting up the Namgang River.
The festival will also showcase large-scale lanterns featuring K-culture elements such as BTS, Squid Game, and King Sejong, as well as aerospace-themed lanterns, symbolizing Jinju’s role as a future aerospace city.
The Jinju Battle Memorial Park will feature themed lanterns under “Light and Shadow,” recreating key scenes from the Battle of Jinju and conveying messages of peace.
Visitors can participate in a variety of interactive events, such as lantern-making workshops, hanging wish lanterns, crossing floating bridges, and a “Treasure Stamp Tour.”
The National Jinju Museum will also host family-friendly activities like crafting horn-cup paper hats and decorating photo frames. Special performances include the Gaecheon Arts Parade on October 10th and the Korea Drama Awards on October 12th, along with youth performances, the Drama Video International Forum on October 11th, and a KDF Concert on October 13th.
To ensure a safer and more convenient experience, Jinju City has set up 12,000 parking spaces and will operate 78 free shuttle buses on high-traffic days to help visitors easily access the festival site.
Online reservations for floating bridge tickets are available, with combined tickets offering a chance to explore all four bridges for a unique lantern viewing experience.