Jinju Namgang Yudeung

The festival

The Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival covers the Nam River with thousands of floating lanterns, at the foot of the Jinjuseong fortress. Its origin dates back to the siege of Jinju in 1592, during the Imjin war: the defenders of the fortress floated lanterns on the river to signal their positions, prevent the enemy from crossing by night and communicating with the families left outside. After the battles, the inhabitants continued to launch lanterns in memory of the dead.

The 2026 edition, from October 3 to 18, lit the river and the banks every night from 6 p.m. to midnight, with light drone shows and fireworks on the water on October 3, 9-10 and 17, a temporary floating bridge, bright hanbok rentals and workshops of hanji paper lanterns. The walk over the fortress walls, over the lanterns, is part of the experience. Arriving before sunset to see the river transform.