Jinju's Three Major Autumn Festivals Kick Off October 3, Continue Through the 18th

Starting with the Namgang Lantern Festival, the Gaecheon Arts Festival and Korea Drama Festival Follow
Programs Include 1,300-Drone Show, Grand Parade, and KDF Concert

Jinju's representative autumn festivals—the Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival, the Gaecheon Arts Festival, and the Korea Drama Festival—will be held successively from October 3 to 18 at Jinju Fortress and the Namgang River area.

The Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival is scheduled to run for 16 days from October 3 to 18. The 75th Gaecheon Arts Festival and the Korea Drama Festival will take place from October 9 to 18.

The festivals will operate every day during the event period from 1:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., with lanterns to be illuminated from 6:00 p.m. until midnight. However, the exact operating hours for each event may vary depending on the specific programs.

[Photo by Jinju City] Jinju Castle and the Namgang River area, where the Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival is held, are illuminated with various types of lanterns, creating a nightscape.

◆ Namgang Lantern Festival … Drone Show, Fireworks, and Interactive Programs

This year's Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival will be themed “The River of History, Embracing Peace.”

The Namgang Lantern Festival, a regional event rooted in the historical backdrop of sending lanterns down the Namgang River during the Battle of Jinju Fortress in the Imjin War to transmit military signals and communicate with families outside the fortress, continues this tradition.

This year’s festival will be the first since its designation as a Global Festival by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. In addition to traditional lantern displays, it will expand programs utilizing digital technologies such as drones and artificial intelligence (AI).

The drone light show, featuring 1,300 drones, will take place three times—on October 3, 10, and 17. Fireworks are scheduled for October 3, 9, and 17.

On the opening day, a “symbolic lantern parade” will involve residents from 30 towns, townships, and neighborhoods of Jinju. Participants will march through the festival site with symbolic lanterns, LED, and glow-in-the-dark props reflecting the unique characteristics of each region.

There will also be programs in which spectators can directly participate, such as trying on LED Hanbok, making lanterns, experiencing wearable LEDs, “Guardians of Jinju,” and “Challenge! Lantern Golden Bell.”

Interactive lanterns featuring artificial intelligence technology will also be introduced. Lanterns designed with Jinju’s tourism characters, “Hamo” and “Ayo,” will be equipped with voice recognition technology to respond to visitors’ questions. A multilingual voice interaction feature will also be available to provide festival and tourism information to foreign visitors.

Promotional posters for Jinju's three major autumn festivals, including the Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival held from October 3 to 18 around Jinju Fortress and Namgang River, the 75th Gaecheon Arts Festival, and the 2026 Korea Drama Festival.

◆ 75th Gaecheon Arts Festival … National Competitions, Parades, and Traditional Culture Experiences

Marking its 75th year, the Gaecheon Arts Festival will be held from October 9 to 18, featuring cultural performances, competitions, and hands-on experiences.

Some arts competitions this year will select participants for the finals through regional preliminaries. The national calligraphy contest will hold its preliminary round in Suncheon, South Jeolla Province; the Namgaram Song Festival in Namwon, North Jeolla Province; and the national poetry recitation contest in Busan.

Small-scale performances, including vocals, popera, traditional Korean music, and instrumental music, will take place in front of the well at Jinju Fortress and at the Jinju Battle Historical Park.

The 19th National Parade Competition is expected to attract about 1,700 participants from 30 teams, including 6 teams from outside Jinju and 10 newly formed teams. Character parades from 22 local governments and professional performance groups will also participate.

There will be traditional cultural experiences for families, including 18 types of traditional games such as building a Hanok (traditional Korean house), archery, and spinning. Programs simulating the historical state examinations, traditional weddings, and the Bong-san Mask Dance will also be held.

During the festival period, the folk market will feature 119 booths, and rest areas for visitors will be set up along the Namgang riverside.

[Photo courtesy of Jinju City] Jinju Fortress and the area around the Namgang River, where the Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival is held, are illuminated with various types of lanterns, creating a nightscape.

◆ Korea Drama Festival … Drama Awards, Performances, and Exhibitions

The 2026 Korea Drama Festival (KDF) will take place at the Gyeongnam Culture & Arts Center and along the Namgang riverside in Jangdae-dong.

The KDF Concert will be held every day from October 9 to 17 at 8:30 p.m. at the Namgang riverside, with a relay of performances by one popular singer or group each night.

The Korea Drama Awards will be held at 5:30 p.m. on October 10 at the Grand Theater of the Gyeongnam Culture & Arts Center. The awards will honor actors and domestic dramas broadcast between August 2025 and July 2026 across terrestrial, cable, and online video service (OTT) platforms in 13 categories.

Exhibition and experience spaces dedicated to drama will also be available. “Drama Script” will offer themed zones and photo opportunities based on recent dramas, while 12 artworks inspired by drama will be displayed.

Along the Namgang riverside, the “KDF Music Festa,” featuring local singers, busking acts, and EDM, will take place. AI-powered short-form dramas and global short-form dramas, both inspired by Jinju’s scenery and stories, will also be presented.

Given the three major festivals coincide, Jinju City plans to strengthen event safety management, implement traffic countermeasures, and better manage visitor movement flows.

The city also noted that some schedules, including the drone show and fireworks, may be adjusted or canceled depending on weather and on-site conditions, advising visitors to check the official festival websites before their visit.

Jang Gyuil, Mayor of Jinju, said, “In October, the Namgang Yudeung Festival, the Gaecheon Arts Festival, and the Korea Drama Festival will be held in succession. We will thoroughly oversee event preparations and operations to ensure all visitors enjoy the festivals safely.”

The three major autumn festivals in Jinju are expected to attract more tourists, as they offer distinctly different content—lanterns, arts, and K-drama—all within the same period.

However, with large crowds expected, proper on-site management—such as relieving traffic congestion, ensuring safety, and controlling price gouging—will be key factors that determine the festivals’ success, as important as the glamorous programs themselves.

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