At a glance
| Dates | Expected Oct 2027Saturday 2 – Sunday 17 October 2027 if the pattern of 2024–2026 (16 days from the first Saturday of October) holds; Jinju City confirmed the 2026 dates on 30 July 2026, so expect the 2027 announcement in late July. |
|---|---|
| Next edition | 2027: Saturday 2 – Sunday 17 October 2027 if the pattern of 2024–2026 (16 days from the first Saturday of October) holds; Jinju City confirmed the 2026 dates on 30 July 2026, so expect the 2027 announcement in late July. |
| Weather | October average 22/9 °C (72/48 °F), 68 mm of rainMild days, cold evenings: a jacket for after dark. Monthly averages, not a forecast: Korea Meteorological Administration climate normals, 1991–2020, Jinju station. |
| Admission | Entry to the riverside, the fortress grounds and all lantern displays is free; crossing the pontoon bridges and a few hands-on items are paid.General admission: Free · Pontoon 'love bridge', one way: ₩2,000 · Pontoon 'love bridge', all-day pass: ₩6,000 (2026 prices) |
| Venue | Jinjuseong Fortress and the Namgang River경상남도 진주시 남강로 626 (본성동) |
| Nearest station | Jinju Station (진주역), Gyeongjeon Line (KTX-Sancheon from Seoul; ITX-Saemaeul)Not walkable to the fortress; free festival shuttle route 4 on shuttle days, otherwise city bus or taxi |
| From Seoul | about 3 h 35 min · KTX + BusLeave from Seoul Station · One-way fare from ₩52,700 · Same-night return is tightFull route · Festivals by travel time from Seoul |
| Organizer | Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival Organizing Committee (host: Jinju City and Jinju Culture and Arts Foundation)진주남강유등축제 제전위원회 / 진주시·(재)진주문화예술재단 |
| Usual timing | Sixteen days from the first Saturday of October to the third Sunday (5–20 October 2024, 4–19 October 2025, 3–18 October 2026). Jinju City confirmed the 2026 dates on 30 July 2026, so expect the 2027 dates in late July. Browse October festivals. |
| First held | 2002 |
| Last checked | 21 October 2026Checked against 21 sources · See sources |
What it is like
Every October the Namgang River in Jinju, a mid-sized city in South Gyeongsang, becomes a lantern gallery. Large illuminated figures stand in the water below the walls of Jinjuseong Fortress, strings of wish lanterns line both banks, and temporary pontoon bridges let you walk across the river among the displays. The festival grew out of lantern floating at the older Gaecheon Art Festival and became a standalone event in 2002; its imagery recalls the lanterns used for signalling during the 1592 siege of the fortress in the Imjin War. In 2026 the theme was 'River of History, Holding Peace', with 165 floating lantern sets, more than 1,200 land lanterns and about 70,000 lights along the river, the fortress, the Sinan-dong embankment, the Railway Culture Park and the Jangdae-dong bank. Lanterns were lit from 18:00 to midnight; pontoon bridges and booths ran 13:00–23:00. The first six days (3–8 October) were lantern-only; from 9 October the 75th Gaecheon Art Festival (56 events including a national costume parade) and the Korea Drama Festival (concerts nightly at 20:30) overlapped with it. Three evenings had fireworks (3, 9 and 17 October at 20:00, launched between Jinjugyo and Cheonsugyo bridges) and three had drone light shows (3, 10 and 17 October; the show grew to 1,300 drones in 2026), with a 300-drone lettering show also on 10 October. Opening night drew 185,000 people and the show weekends are very crowded; the bridges use digital counters to cap numbers, and 36 temporary car parks with free shuttles handle cars. Daytime visits are pointless for the lanterns themselves. Jinju Station is away from the centre, and the last KTX to Seoul leaves too early to watch the fireworks and still catch it.
Highlights
- Floating lantern figures on the Namgang below Jinjuseong Fortress, lit 18:00–24:00 nightly, with 165 water sets and over 1,200 land lanterns in 2026
- Fireworks at 20:00 on 3, 9 and 17 October 2026, launched from seven points between Jinjugyo and Cheonsugyo bridges
- Drone light shows over the river on 3 and 17 October (19:50) and 10 October (20:00), enlarged to 1,300 drones in 2026, plus a 300-drone lettering show of residents’ messages on 10 October
- Pontoon 'love bridges' across the river (₩2,000 one way, ₩6,000 all-day), open 13:00–23:00 with last tickets at 22:50
- Opening-day street procession of symbolic lanterns at 18:30 on 3 October, starting from the musical fountain, and the national costume parade from Gongbuk Gate at noon on 10 October
- Hands-on booths: hang a wish lantern, float a small lantern from the Mangyeong-dong bank from 18:00, lantern-making, LED hanbok and a Jinjuseong history mission tour
Who it suits. Best for photographers, couples and families who want a large free night spectacle with an easy riverside walk; less suited to anyone who hates crowds or must return to Seoul the same night, because show weekends are packed and the last KTX leaves too early to see the 20:00 fireworks and still reach the station, which is outside the centre.
Getting there
From Seoul
KTX-Sancheon from Seoul Station to Jinju Station, 3 h 22 m–3 h 43 m, ₩52,700–53,100 standard class, about 9–11 departures a day. Jinju Station is outside the centre: on shuttle days take free shuttle route 4 from the station lot, otherwise a city bus marked for the festival or a taxi to Jinjuseong.
From Busan
Intercity bus from Busan Seobu (Sasang) Terminal to Jinju Intercity Bus Terminal, about 1 h 34 m, ₩10,000 standard or ₩13,100 deluxe, roughly 38 departures a day. The terminal at 712 Namgang-ro is a short walk along the river from the festival site at 626 Namgang-ro.
From Incheon Airport
AREX or airport bus to Seoul Station, then the KTX-Sancheon to Jinju (about 3.5 hours); allow a full day. Alternatively fly to Gimhae (Busan) and take the intercity bus from Sasang.
Last leg from Jinju Station
Gyeongjeon Line (KTX-Sancheon from Seoul; ITX-Saemaeul). Not walkable to the fortress; free festival shuttle route 4 on shuttle days, otherwise city bus or taxi
Festival shuttle
2026: seven free shuttle routes on 3–5, 9–11 and 16–18 October, 16:00–23:00, from outlying lots — Jinju IC (Wings Tower/Hyeoksin City), Munsan IC (broadcast site/Jinju Stadium), Uiryeong-Hapcheon direction (wholesale market/Chojeon Park), Jinju Station (route 4), Seo-Jinju IC toward Sancheong (public stadium), Seo-Jinju IC toward Hadong (Pangmun stream park/Pyeonggeo-dong) and Sacheon IC (Jeongchon-myeon lot).
Getting home
In 2026 the last KTX from Jinju to Seoul left before the evening fireworks. Jinju Station is outside the centre, so plan to stay overnight, or take an intercity bus to Busan Sasang. Timetables change (Korail's changed on 1 November 2026): check the last train in the Korail app (코레일+ / Korail+) and the last bus at Jinju Intercity Bus Terminal before the festival day.
Parking
36 temporary car parks with 11,360 spaces served by free shuttles on show weekends. Lots within 1.5 km (Jinju Daecheop History Park, Insa-dong public lot) are small and fill by early afternoon; the City Hall lot opens on weekends and holidays; Jinjuseong lot ₩500 per 30 minutes then ₩200 per 10 minutes.
How to switch Naver Map and Kakao Map to English
Google Maps shows train, subway and bus routes in Korea but not walking or driving directions yet, so for the walk from the station Naver Map or Kakao Map is more reliable.
Before you go
1330 · Travel hotline
The Korea Tourism Organization’s helpline answers in English, Japanese and Chinese around the clock, and in several other languages from 08:00 to 19:00. Dial 1330 from a Korean phone, or +82-2-1330 from a phone registered abroad.
112 / 119 · Emergencies
112 for police, 119 for fire and ambulance. Both are free from any phone. Police on 112 can add an English or Chinese interpreter to the call.
T-money card
Buy one at a convenience store such as GS25, CU or 7-Eleven and top it up there with cash. It pays for subways and buses in most cities, and for most taxis.
Maps
Use Naver Map or Kakao Map for walking and bus directions; Google Maps does not yet give walking directions in Korea. Both apps can be switched to English. Naver Map: Menu (≡) → Settings → Language (Japanese and Chinese also available). Kakao Map: Menu (≡) → Settings → App settings → Language. If the option is missing, change your phone’s language and reopen the app. Small shop names and some reviews stay in Korean.
Trains and buses
Book trains on Korail’s English site and express buses on Kobus. Holiday weekends sell out first.
Checked 18 October 2026.
Tickets, prices and practical details
| Item | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| General admission | Free | Free (KTO Korean listing updated 8 Oct 2026; official site) |
| Pontoon 'love bridge', one way | ₩2,000 | Reported by two 2026 guides citing the official site/KTO; the same ₩2,000 price was published for 2024 (Seoul Shinmun) |
| Pontoon 'love bridge', all-day pass | ₩6,000 | Same sources as above |
| Wish lantern (소망등) hanging | ₩10,000 | One 2026 guide citing the KTO Korean listing; not seen on an official page |
| Lantern floating (유등 띄우기) | — | Reported as ₩3,000 by one guide and ₩5,000 by another; unresolved |
| Jinjuseong car park | ₩500 | Per 30 minutes for cars, then ₩200 per 10 minutes (one guide, no source given) |
- Booking
- Pontoon-bridge tickets are sold on site and through the official site and Naver Booking (Korean interface); lost paper tickets are not reissued and unused tickets are refundable only within their validity period. Nothing else needs booking.
- English on site
- The official site has English, Japanese and Chinese versions; KTO's 1330 hotline covers English, Japanese and Chinese; no on-site interpretation is published.
- Crowds
- Very crowded on the three show weekends (opening day 2026 drew about 185,000); 17–18 October was the last weekend of all three overlapping festivals. Weekday evenings are manageable. Digital counters cap the number of people on each pontoon bridge.
- Best time to go
- Arrive before the 18:00 lighting and stay for a 20:00 fireworks night (3, 9 or 17 October 2026); from 9 October the Gaecheon Art Festival added daytime events. Daytime visits show unlit lanterns.
- What to bring
- Comfortable shoes (the route covers both banks and the fortress) and a layer for October evenings by the river.
Editions
| Year | Dates | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | Saturday 2 – Sunday 17 October 2027 if the pattern of 2024–2026 (16 days from the first Saturday of October) holds; Jinju City confirmed the 2026 dates on 30 July 2026, so expect the 2027 announcement in late July. | expected | |
| 2026 | 3–18 Oct 2026 | ended | Theme '역사의 강, 평화를 담다'; 165 water lantern sets (135 in 2025), 1,200+ land lanterns, about 70,000 lights, 1,300 drones (950 in 2025), seven fireworks launch points (five in 2025); 63 CCTV cameras and digital counters on four pontoon bridges; 36 temporary car parks with 11,360 spaces. The official overview page still carried a '2025' title with 2026 dates when checked. |
| 2025 | 4–19 Oct 2025 | ended | Closed 19 October 2025 (TF News, 20 Oct 2025). |
| 2024 | 5–20 Oct 2024 | ended | Free shuttle buses and free museum activities were offered. |
Nearby
- Jinjuseong Fortress and Chokseongnu Pavilion (진주성·촉석루) — On site. The festival's backdrop; the fortress wall near Chokseongnu overlooks the floating lanterns and is itself a lantern zone
- Jinju National Museum (국립진주박물관) — Inside the fortress. Inside the fortress, focused on the Imjin War that the festival's lanterns commemorate; free museum activities were offered during the 2024 festival
- Jinju Intercity Bus Terminal area and Jangdae-dong riverside (진주시외버스터미널·장대동 남강 둔치). The bus terminal at 712 Namgang-ro sits by the Jangdae-dong embankment, one of the 2026 lantern zones
Questions travelers ask
When is Jinju Lantern Festival 2027?
Not yet announced. It has run 16 days from the first Saturday of October since 2024 (3–18 October 2026), so expect 2–17 October 2027. Jinju City confirmed the 2026 dates on 30 July, so look for the 2027 dates in late July.
Is the Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival free?
Yes, entry is free (KTO and the organizer). The pontoon bridges cost ₩2,000 one way or ₩6,000 for an all-day pass, and hanging a wish lantern was reported at ₩10,000 in 2026.
What is different between the first six days and the last ten?
From 3 to 8 October 2026 only the lantern festival ran. From 9 October the 75th Gaecheon Art Festival (56 events, including a costume parade on 10 October) and the Korea Drama Festival (concerts nightly at 20:30) overlapped until 18 October.
When are the fireworks and drone shows?
In 2026: fireworks at 20:00 on 3, 9 and 17 October between Jinjugyo and Cheonsugyo bridges; drone shows at 19:50 on 3 and 17 October and at 20:00 on 10 October (1,300 drones in 2026), plus a 300-drone lettering show of residents’ messages on 10 October.
How do I get to Jinju from Seoul?
KTX-Sancheon from Seoul Station to Jinju Station takes 3 h 22 m–3 h 43 m and costs about ₩53,000 standard class. Jinju Station is outside the centre; on shuttle days a free bus (route 4) runs to the festival, otherwise take a taxi.
Can I see the lanterns in the daytime?
You can walk the site and cross the pontoon bridges from 13:00, but the lanterns are not lit until 18:00. Lighting runs to midnight, so the evening is the only time the river display works.
Can I get back to Seoul the same night?
Not after the fireworks: in 2026 the last KTX to Seoul left Jinju before them. Stay overnight, or take an intercity bus to Busan Sasang; check the last train in the Korail app (코레일+ / Korail+) and the last bus at Jinju terminal before the festival day.
What is the weather like at Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival in October?
October in Jinju: average high 22 °C (72 °F), low 9 °C (48 °F), 68 mm of rain (Jinju station, KMA 1991–2020 normals). Mild days, cold evenings: a jacket for after dark.
Sources and verification
Facts checked
21 October 2026, against the sources listed below.
This page is desk research from the sources below, not a firsthand report of the 2027 edition. Confidence in the current facts: high.
- Korea Tourism Organization (English) — Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festivalkto — 2026 dates 3–18 Oct, venue, address 626 Namgang-ro, free admission, hours 13:00–23:00, organizers, phone
- KTO TourAPI data mirrored on ktriptips (content 506926, updated 8 Oct 2026)kto — Period, hours 13:00–23:00, host Jinju City and Jinju Culture and Arts Foundation, organizer Festival Organizing Committee, free admission, programme categories
- KTO (English, legacy page) — Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festivalkto — Same core facts: dates, venue, free admission, organizer
- Official site — festival overview (행사개요)official — Theme, dates 3 Oct (Sat)–18 Oct (Sun), lantern lighting 18:00–24:00, bridges and booths 13:00–23:00, organizer address and phone
- Official site — event layout page (행사배치도)official — Same hours and dates; layout map not yet published; recent notices
- Official site — home (metadata)official — Organizer (Jinju Culture and Arts Foundation) and venue coordinates 35.1903, 128.0803 in page geo tags
- Nocut News — 2026 festival report (5 Oct 2026)news — Dated 2026 programme (drone/fireworks nights, costume parade, KDF concerts), zones, lantern and drone counts, 185,000 opening-day visitors, 36 car parks/11,360 spaces, seven free shuttle routes on Fri–Sun/holidays, pontoon counters
- Gyeongnam Domin Ilbo via Daum — Jinju confirms 2026 festival dates (30 Jul 2026)news — 2026 dates 3–18 Oct; 75th Gaecheon Art Festival and Korea Drama Festival 9–18 Oct; three drone and three fireworks shows; announcement date
- Seoul Shinmun — 2025 Jinju autumn festivals open (3 Oct 2025)news — 2025 opened 4 Oct for 16 days; drone shows 4, 8, 18 Oct; fireworks 4, 10, 18 Oct; Gaecheon 74th and KDF from 10 Oct; staffing numbers
- TF News — 2025 festivals close (20 Oct 2025)news — 2025 edition ran 4–19 October
- Seoul Shinmun — 2024 festival preview (26 Sep 2024)news — 2024 dates 5–20 Oct; drone and fireworks dates; bridge ₩2,000/₩6,000; Gaecheon 73rd 10–20 Oct; free shuttles
- TRVLOGUE — 2026 Jinju Yudeung Festival guide (blog)blog — Shuttle routes and days (3–5, 9–11, 16–18 Oct, 16:00–23:00), parking tips, pontoon ticket rules, bridge prices, last bridge ticket 22:50, fireworks location
- TRVLOGUE — 2026 Jinju Yudeung Festival guide part 2 (blog)blog — Drone and fireworks times by date, lantern floating from 18:00 at Mangyeong-dong (₩5,000 reported), experience list
- Travel Map Journey — '앞 6일과 뒤 10일이 달라요' (blog)blog — Opening-day timetable (18:00 ritual, 18:30 procession, 19:30 lighting, 19:50 drones, 20:00 fireworks), prices cited from KTO (bridge ₩2,000/₩6,000, wish lantern ₩10,000, floating ₩3,000), Jinjuseong parking rates, terminal address 712 Namgang-ro
- asamaru train timetable — Seoul Station to Jinju Stationother — KTX-Sancheon 3 h 22 m–3 h 43 m, ₩52,700–53,100, 9–11 departures per day in mid-October 2026, first 05:03
- asamaru train timetable — Jinju Station to Seoul Stationother — Last KTX 19:15 (20:05 on 16–18 Oct 2026), ₩53,100
- asamaru intercity bus timetable — Jinju Intercity Bus Terminalother — Jinju–Busan Sasang about 1 h 34 m, ₩10,000/₩13,100, about 38 departures, 05:50–22:00 (22:00 bus ₩12,000)
- Wikipedia — Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festivalother — Established 2002; began as lantern floating at the Gaecheon Art Festival; held annually in October
- 경남뉴스투데이 — 진주시, 2026년 진주남강유등축제 화려한 개막 (2026-10-04; Jinju City release text)news — Drone shows on opening day, 10 and 17 Oct; drone light show enlarged from 950 to 1,300; 10 Oct also a 300-drone lettering mini drone show
- 위키트리 — 1300대 드론 뜨고 불꽃 터진다 (2026-10-04)news — 1,300-drone light show held three times: 3 Oct, 10 Oct 20:00, 17 Oct 19:50
- 경북매일 — 2026 진주남강유등축제 현장 (2026-10-07)news — 2026 festival 3–18 Oct at Jinjuseong and the Namgang; Jinjuseong open free of charge during the festival; drone show at 20:00 followed by fireworks
What we could not confirm
- An official 2026 price page: the pontoon, wish-lantern and lantern-floating prices come from guides citing the official site/KTO, and the floating fee is reported as both ₩3,000 and ₩5,000
- Official shuttle timetable and city-bus numbers from Jinju Station to Jinjuseong
- Whether the 2027 dates will keep the first-Saturday pattern (Chuseok 2027 is in mid-September, so no obvious clash)
- Restroom, accessibility and rain arrangements
- No Wikimedia Commons photo could be verified (Commons category/file pages were unreachable during research; a 2015 photo by hyolee2 under CC BY-SA 3.0 is cited by one guide)
- Current Jinju–Busan intercity bus fares: the record gives ₩10,000 standard / ₩13,100 deluxe; neither was confirmed on an official booking site.
- How many drones flew on 10 October 2026: the city said only that the 300-drone lettering show also ran that night.
- Who took part in the 3 October 2026 opening procession: only a blog timetable (18:30 symbolic-lantern procession from the musical fountain) was found; an earlier claim that residents of all 30 districts carried lanterns had no source.
- The Jinjuseong car-park rates (₩500 per 30 minutes, then ₩200 per 10 minutes) come from a guide that names no source.
- Last train back to Seoul and last intercity bus to Busan Sasang on the festival dates under the timetables in force those days.
Changes: 2026-10-16 — Full fact-first rewrite: hours, prices, stations, 2024–2027 editions, FAQs and sources. · 2026-10-16 — Rechecked against timetables, fare tables and organizer notices: conflicting dates and transport details; conflicting figures and claims. · 2026-10-20 — Bus class corrected from the timetable: the fare listed as premium is deluxe (우등). · 2026-10-20 — 2026 edition in the past tense; last-KTX wording matches the 19:15/20:05 times (the station is outside the centre). · 2026-10-20 — Tense: the 2026 edition has ended, so sentences about it are in the past tense. · 2026-10-21 — Corrected after an independent fact audit: opening-procession highlight no longer claims residents of all 30 districts (unsourced); Jinjuseong car-park rate attributed to a guide without a source; Kyungbuk Maeil added for free fortress entry. · 2026-10-21 — Transport: removed last-train and last-bus clock times taken from the October 2026 timetables (Korail's timetable changed on 1 November 2026); journey times and frequencies kept, with a note to check the last train in the Korail app or at the terminal before the festival day.
