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연등회

연등회 · © KTO · KOGL Type 3

Seoul

연등회

연등회 is a seasonal festival in Korea — check official dates and program before you visit.

FESTSTAGELimited-time festival — plan around the datesSeoul's distinctive city pulse

Why go

Yeondeunghoe (Lotus Lantern Festival) is one of Korea's most internationally recognised Buddhist festivals, registered with UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2020. The festival lights up central Seoul over a few days around Buddha's Birthday, peaking with a massive lantern parade that flows from Heunginjimun (Dongdaemun) toward Jogyesa Temple, illuminating Jong-no with thousands of paper lanterns and large character lanterns shaped as dragons, lotus blossoms, and Buddhist iconography. Traditional dance, monk-led prayer rituals, and a final 'eoulim madang' (community gathering) accompany the parade. For travelers in Seoul during late spring, Yeondeunghoe is an unusually accessible UNESCO heritage moment, with full English signage and parade-route maps designed for foreign visitors.

Quick highlights

  • UNESCO-recognised Lotus Lantern Festival
  • Massive lantern parade through central Seoul
  • Held around Buddha's Birthday in late spring
  • Strong English signage and route maps
  • One of Seoul's most visually iconic festivals

Nearby best pairs

Other places in Seoul that pair well with this visit.