A visitor on the evening of Oct. 13 takes photos inside the Wishing Lantern Tunnel at the Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival, which ran from Oct. 3-18 in and around Jinjuseong Fortress and the Namgang River in Jinju, Gyeongsangnam-do Province.
By Kim Seon Ah
Photos = Park Dae Jin
"May everyone in my family always be healthy, both physically and mentally."
"May I meet a good person and be happy."
"May we be happy every day."
Small lanterns of various shapes and colors each inscribed with a personal wish illuminated the Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival, which ran from Oct. 3-18 in and around Jinjuseong Fortress and the Namgang River in Jinju, Gyeongsangnam-do Province. Under the theme "River of History, Embracing Peace," this year's edition featured about 70,000 floating lanterns.
Korea.net visited the festival site on Oct. 18. As the sun set, lanterns floating on the river began to light up one by one, their glow reflecting off the water and shimmering across the rippling surface.
Lanterns on the evening of Oct. 13 illuminate the night around Jinju Fortress and the Namgang River at the Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival.
The origins of the lanterns go back to the late 16th century at the time of the Imjin Waeran, the Japanese invasion of the Korean Peninsula. Locals floated lanterns along the Namgang as a form of communication with volunteer militia outside the fortress, as well as convey news of their families' well-being.
Launched in 1949 as the lantern competition of the Gaecheon Arts Festival, the event was made a separate gala in 2000. Given its rich history and tradition of floating lanterns, it qualified as a "global festival" for 2026–28 by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
Through the designation, the festival receives support from a three-year project to develop provincial events into global tourism content.
"I was amazed by the sheer number and variety of the lanterns," said Can Steinemann, a visitor to the festival. "There are so many lanterns featuring food, animals and characters—something for everyone to enjoy."
"There were so many lanterns that made me smile that it was hard to choose just one," he said. "But if I had to pick one, it would be the Wishing Lantern Tunnel, formed by a cluster of small lanterns."
"A wish was written on each lantern and it was really wonderful to see so many people create such a beautiful work of art together."
Popular contemporary characters were also featured as lanterns. Steinemann said he was impressed by how such a long-standing festival incorporated modern culture.
Lanterns on Oct. 13 illuminate the night at the Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival around Jinjuseong Fortress and the Namgang River.
Stories of lanterns have been passed down through generations. Lee Eun Wha, who drove 6 1/2 hours from Seoul to see the festival, said what captivated her mother, 88, a first-time visit to the event, were lanterns depicting a bride and groom dressed in Hanbok (traditional attire).
"My mother was thrilled to see the lanterns of a bride and groom in Hanbok, saying they reminded her of the old days," Lee said. Her mother in setting her lantern afloat wished for the propersity of all her children and grandchildren.
"The lanterns blended beautifully with the surrounding natural landscape, making it pleasant to walk around," Lee added.
People on Oct. 13 watch floating lanterns drift down the Namgang River while making wishes at the Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival in Jinju, Gyeongsangnam-do Province.
Once used to send military messages some four centuries ago, lanterns are now symbols of hope, well-being and peace. Floating on the Namgang River, the ones displayed at the festival ranged from a traditional married couple in Hanbok to contemporary characters, reflecting how the past and present can unite.
sofiakim218@korea.kr
