Jinju Namgangyu Etc. Festival

Floating lanterns on the Nam River date back to the Battle of Jinju Fortress, one of the three great victories of the Imjin War, when lanterns were used as military signals between soldiers inside the fortress and righteous militia outside, as well as a way for families to check on each other's safety. Carrying on this tradition, Jinju citizens ran a 'lantern competition' as part of the Gaecheon Arts Festival — the pioneer of Korea's regional comprehensive arts festivals, held since 1949 — before the lantern event became its own independent festival in 2000, now known as the Jinju Namgang Lantern Festival. Over time, the floating lanterns have come to symbolize people's wishes for peace, love, happiness, and fulfilled dreams, growing into a global festival that now shares the value of peace with visitors from around the world. Every autumn, in 'Jinju, city of light and peace,' the spectacular lantern displays along the Nam River and around Jinju Fortress offer both stunning scenery and a reminder of the history behind them.