‘2022 Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival’ Opens Spectacularly... Illuminated on the 10th for Opening Ceremony

Over 70,000 Lanterns at Jinju Fortress and Namgang Area Continue Until Late October

This year's 'Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival' was spectacularly opened with the presence of Cho Gyu-il, Mayor of Jinju, Seo Young-su, Chairman of the Festival Committee, and other organizers, along with Governor Park Wan-su, and National Assembly members Park Dae-chul and Kang Min-guk.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Soon-kyung] The ‘2022 Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival,’ Korea’s prestigious representative cultural tourism festival, spectacularly opened on the 10th with the Chohon Lighting Ceremony at the special stage in Mangyeong-dong, Jinju City, illuminating about 70,000 lanterns simultaneously.

At the Chohon Lighting Ceremony, attendees included Jinju Mayor Jo Gyu-il, Festival Committee Chairman Seo Young-su, the hosts, Gyeongnam Governor Park Wan-su, National Assembly members Park Dae-chul and Kang Min-guk, provincial and city council members, heads of various organizations, and figures from the cultural and arts sectors.

The Chohon Lighting Ceremony proceeded in the order of invited performances, lantern wish performances, video greetings from key figures, an aerial media art drone light show, and the Chohon lighting.

Mayor Jo Gyu-il and Chairman Seo Young-su read the ‘Wish Gate’ and floated lanterns carrying the peace and wishes of Jinju citizens on the Namgang River. Key guests, including the Gyeongnam Governor and local National Assembly members, took the stage to light up about 70,000 lanterns simultaneously, marking the grand start of the festival.

As a special content performance, a fantastic media art show created by over 300 drones and a multi-media fireworks show on the Namgang riverside and Jinju Fortress’s night sky amazed the visitors at the festival.

The Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival is Korea’s first nighttime festival branded with Jinju’s historical significance. It features various large-scale floating lanterns on Jinju Fortress and the Namgang River, and colorful lanterns expressing different themes installed along the Namgang embankment and Jinju Fortress, turning October nights into beautiful lights of water, fire, and light, making it Korea’s prestigious representative cultural tourism festival.

This September, the festival competed in the U.S. finals of the International Festivals & Events Association (IFEA WORLD) and was selected as the ‘2022 World Festival City,’ winning a world festival award and establishing itself as a globally recognized festival.

Held normally for the first time in three years, the 2022 Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival opened under the theme ‘The River of History, Embracing Peace’ and runs until the 31st across Jinju Fortress and the Namgang area.

Under Chokseokru Pavilion, large-scale world folk lanterns and Korean lanterns float on the Namgang River, and various lanterns are installed along the Namgang embankment to create a fantastic night view.

Inside Jinju Fortress, a large peace lantern is installed at Chokseokmun Gate, and lanterns themed on healing, history, and other subjects are exhibited. Especially around the outdoor performance hall of Jinju Fortress, fortress walls recreating the Battle of Jinju Fortress are installed to commemorate the 70,000 civilians, officials, and soldiers who died in the Imjin War’s Jinju Fortress battle.

On Mangyeong-dong’s History Street, a creative lantern tunnel displaying about 900 lanterns made by various age groups including local welfare centers, universities, high schools, and middle school students is set up. At Jinju Fortress’s Chokseokru Pavilion, award-winning works from the Korea Lantern Contest are exhibited, allowing visitors to appreciate high-quality and original lantern artworks. Various experiential events such as wish lantern hanging, pontoon crossing, love events, traditional play experiences, wish fulfillment experiences, lantern making and floating, and citizen participation lantern making are also prepared.

This year, three pontoons are installed at the Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival site. The first pontoon is a baedari (a temporary bridge made by floating boats with a deck on top) exhibiting baedari lanterns, providing a unique experience by allowing visitors to safely cross the river where lanterns float.

Also, the second pontoon connects the newly created Wish Jinsan Lantern Theme Park, Mulbit Naru Rest Area, and cruise boats, expanding the festival area and adding unique attractions such as media art, while encouraging dispersion of visitors and citizens to provide a comfortable festival environment.

The third pontoon, connecting Jinju Fortress to the Music Fountain Square, is recreated as a lantern artwork themed ‘A Stone Bridge Embracing a Thousand Years, Crossing That Time,’ inspired by the ‘Yongdari Legend’ within Jinju Fortress.

The pontoon fee is 2,000 KRW one way, and an integrated ticket allowing passage on all pontoons costs 5,000 KRW.

The Wish Lantern Tunnel, featuring about 40,000 wish lanterns installed this year, is a popular spot loved by many visitors. The locations of pre-registered wish lanterns are provided via the Namgang Yudeung Festival app and text message service.

On weekends, busking performances and various events such as Namgaran Eoulmadang take place at the special stage in Jinju Fortress, Okseok Naru, and Mangjinsan Theme Park.

Along the Jinju Fortress walking trail, a unique lantern lighting path called ‘Secret Garden’ is created, and the third pontoon leading to the Music Fountain Square is installed, expected to serve as a photo zone for couples and families enjoying the autumn festival nights.

Lanterns are also installed in outer base areas such as Gangju Pond, Lee Seong-ja Art Museum, Wolasan Forest’s Jinju, Geumhoji, and Chojang-dong Mulbit Park, heightening the festival atmosphere in the city.

During the Namgang Yudeung Festival, various events such as the Gaecheon Arts Festival (27th to November 3rd), Korea Drama Festival (21st to November 3rd), National Folk Ox Wrestling Competition, and Jinju Craftsmen Festival take place, allowing visitors to fully enjoy the autumn festival feast.

The city has prepared 15 temporary parking lots with 6,900 spaces near Jinju’s gateway, and two lots with 400 spaces for tourist buses to facilitate visitors’ transportation. Additionally, 15 lots with 2,700 spaces for residents near the festival site have been set up, totaling 34 lots with 11,000 spaces to provide convenient transportation.

By searching ‘Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival Parking Lot’ on internet portals like Naver and Tmap or navigation apps, visitors can receive guidance to temporary parking lots and enjoy convenient tourism.

On Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, including the 10th and 31st when many visitors are expected, 70 free shuttle buses operate on six routes from 3 PM to 11 PM. The free shuttle buses use dedicated lanes to quickly transport visitors from temporary parking lots to the festival site.

A city official said, “As the festival is held for the first time in three years, many tourists are expected to visit Jinju,” and urged active participation in the campaign to ‘Use Public Transportation and Avoid Using Private Cars.’

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.