Jinju Namgang Lantern Festival 2026: Until Oct 18, Free Entry but KTX From Seoul Costs ₩51,500

As the sun sets below Jinju Fortress, hundreds of "yudeung" (流燈, floating lanterns carrying people's wishes) begin to glow one by one along the Namgang River. The Jinju Namgang Lantern Festival is still running on the evening of October 8, so it's an easy day trip — or an overnight one — from Seoul.

At a glance: 2026 Jinju Namgang Lantern Festival, October 3 (Sat) - 18 (Sun) · Theme: "A River of History Carries Peace" · Hours 1 p.m.-11 p.m., lanterns are lit from dusk · Venue: Jinju Fortress and the Namgang River area (626 Namgang-ro, Jinju, Gyeongsangnam-do) · Basic admission is free (only some hands-on programs are paid) · Inquiries: Jinju Culture and Arts Foundation, +82-55-761-9111 · Getting there from Seoul: KTX from Suseo Station to Jinju Station, about 3 hours 30-40 minutes, roughly 51,500 won in standard class.

The festival's name comes from a wartime story: during the 1592 Japanese invasion (Imjin War), soldiers defending Jinju Fortress are said to have floated lit lanterns on the Namgang River to signal to allies outside and to send word to their families. 2026 is the first festival since the event was named a World Festival City program for 2026-2028, and organizers say they've expanded foreign-visitor programs and multilingual guidance this year.

Large sculptural lanterns float on the river each night alongside a drone light show and a fireworks display over the water. Visitors can also join hands-on programs, such as writing a wish and hanging it on a "wish lantern," or launching a small lantern of their own onto the river. Basic viewing is free, but some of these hands-on programs carry a separate fee, so it's worth checking on site.

From Seoul, take the KTX from Suseo Station to Jinju Station. On October 8, the 12:04 p.m. departure arrives in Jinju at 3:44 p.m., a trip of about 3 hours 40 minutes, with a standard-class adult fare of roughly 51,500 won. From Jinju Station, you can reach the festival grounds at Jinju Fortress and the Namgang River area by city bus or taxi. Since admission itself is free, transportation ends up being the bulk of what you'll actually spend.

After the Jinju festival wraps up on October 18, the next big event worth planning around is the 21st Busan Fireworks Festival on Saturday, November 7, at Gwangalli Beach. Paid seating runs 100,000 won for an R seat and 70,000 won for an S seat, so it's worth booking ahead.