Busan Yeondeunghoe (Lantern Festival) Guide

[This article will be updated once the exact 2026 dates are officially announced]

Yeondeunghoe, designated National Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 122, has a locally-run edition here in Busan. It’s held around Buddha’s Birthday (the 8th day of the 4th lunar month) each year, which typically falls in the mid-to-late part of April through early May on the solar calendar. The exact date shifts year to year, so check the official announcement for the current year.

The basics

Item	Details
Date	[TBA — to be updated after the official announcement] (typically around the 8th day of the 4th lunar month, mid-to-late April through early May)
Location	Songsanghyeon Square (Busanjin-gu), Dasom Square at Busan Citizens Park
Cost	Free (only the wish lantern experience is paid, around 1,000 KRW)
Organizer	Local Buddhist association coalitions
Type	Traditional Buddhist culture festival, part of National Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 122

How it differs from the Seoul Yeondeunghoe

Many visitors know the Seoul version of Yeondeunghoe first. Busan’s edition is smaller in scale, but that also means lighter crowds and easier access. If you’re not looking for Seoul’s large-scale parade and would rather enjoy the traditional lantern displays and hands-on activities up close and at a relaxed pace, Busan’s version is a good fit.

Songsanghyeon Square or Busan Citizens Park first?

• Songsanghyeon Square: The most convenient option — just a 2-minute walk from Exit 8 of Bujeon Station on Subway Line 1. The main programs (the lantern culture festival with traditional lantern displays and the wish lantern experience, the lantern parade, and the unified celebration ceremony) are centered here.
• Dasom Square, Busan Citizens Park: Reachable on foot or by public transit from Songsanghyeon Square, with a larger park area for a more relaxed look at the lanterns.

A good route is to catch the main programs at Songsanghyeon Square first, then head to Busan Citizens Park if you have time left.

Want to see Samgwangsa’s lantern tunnel too?

Samgwangsa, located in Choeup, is a separate temple event known for its colorful lantern tunnel. It runs on a different schedule from Busan’s Yeondeunghoe, usually held separately in late May — don’t mix up the dates. To get there, transfer to a village bus from Exit 9 of Seomyeon Station.

Both events are signature spring Buddhist culture events in Busan, but they’re completely separate events with different dates and locations.

Best time for photos

The window from early evening into dusk, as the lanterns light up one by one, is the best time for photos. Try to catch the moment before it’s fully dark, when the sky color and lantern light show up together in the same frame.

Nearby hotels — Seomyeon is the most convenient

Staying in Seomyeon, the area closest to Songsanghyeon Square, means you can enjoy the festival without much travel hassle.

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