About this festival
Origins trace to the 1592 Imjin War, when defenders of Jinju Fortress used floating lanterns to signal positions and deter enemy crossings. Today the festival fills the Namgang with lit installations, dragons, fortresses, mythological figures, that are most striking at dusk. The fortress itself is illuminated and worth a separate evening visit.
Getting there
From Seoul: 3.5 hours by KTX (Suseo → Jinju) or ~4 hours by express bus. From Busan: 1.5 hours by bus. The festival site is along the Namgang in central Jinju, walkable from Jinju Station via taxi or local bus.
Tips
Best visited at sunset for the lighting transition. Weekday evenings are far less crowded than Saturdays. Tickets are sold at gates; bring cash or a Korean card. Combine with Jinju Castle for a full evening.
Dates by year
- confirmed
2026
October 3 – 18, 2026
Source: Korea Tourism Organization (TourAPI). Last verified 2026-05-09.