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| Introduction | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The yudeung (lanterns) that are floated along the Namgang River in Jinju symbolize the anniversary of the Jinjuseong battles during the worst suffering period of Imjinwaeran (Japanese Invasion of Korea in 1592). In October of 1592, Chungmugong (a title bestowed by the king upon celebrated heroes and generals) General Kim Si-min gathered no more than over 3,800 soldiers to miraculously defeat over 20,000 Japanese troops invading Jinjuseong. The ‘Jinjudaecheop (Great Victory of Jinju)’ immensely heightened the pride of the Korean nation and now has become a part of the country’s grand history to mark the origins of this festival. Pungdeungs (a type of lantern acting as a flare) were shot into the sky to signal the royal troops and reinforcements waiting outside the palace walls while torchlights were floated across the Namgang River with lanterns as a strategic war tactic to hinder Japanese troops trying to cross the waters. The lanterns were not only used as military signals, but also as a means of communicative methods between military soldiers and their families that they left behind. The Jinju Namgang Yudeung (lanterns) have been used by General Kim Si-min to impede Japanese aggression trying to cross the Namgang River, by military soldiers to communicate with their families, and other various reasons. However, today the lanterns are floated on the waters of Namgang River in an annual event of the Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival in order to praise the spirits of 70,000 chivalrous Korean soldiers and citizens who devoted their lives in defending the country and the people of the Korean nation when over 120,000 Japanese troops invaded Jinjuseong in June of 1593, as Jinjuseong regretfully fell into hands of the Japanese (Gyesansunui). Now, the Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival allows visitors to personally experience the beauty of the lanterns that are floated on the river’s waters that hold a thousand-year-old history, hear historic tales about the lanterns, and participate in a diverse variety of cultural events that can be sympathized with by people of today. The festival’s main events consist of the Gaejesik (lighting of the lanterns as a memorial service for the soldiers who died in the war), an exhibition of the world’s traditional lanterns, hanging of the wishing lanterns, floating the wishing lanterns, and more. On the other hand, festival experience programs include ‘dancing lanterns’, ‘swinging lanterns’, ‘creative lanterns’, ‘flying super board lanterns’, and a variety of other diverse events. The Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival celebrates the lanterns that were used as military signals in the Jinjuseong battles during the Imjinwaeran (Japanese Invasion of Korea in 1592) to defend the country from the invading Japanese troops that were trying to cross the rivers. Furthermore, one of the festival’s largest events opens after the sun sets, when a procession of wishing lanterns are floated on the Namgang River along with the creative lanterns made by the students of Jinju. Many tourists from all over the world and even professional photographers visit this festival every year in order to catch a glimpse of the festival’s gorgeous night scenery. |
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| Transportation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| From the Seoul Express Bus Terminal, take an express bus headed towards Jinju (est. travel time of 3hrs 50min / departs every 20~50min). After you get off at the Jinju Express Terminal, you will need to walk about 10 to 20 minutes to get to the festival grounds, or you may also decide to take a taxi for a 5min ride that will cost you the base taxi fare. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Homepage | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| www.yudeung.com (English, Japanese) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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