'2023 Yeondeunghoe' 100,000 Lanterns Adorn Jongno Area

The traditional cultural festival Yeondeunghoe, designated as a National Intangible Cultural Property and a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, will be held from May 19 to 21 throughout the Jongno area.

This year, Yeondeunghoe will be significantly expanded from the approximately 70% scaled-down event held due to the impact of COVID-19. The Jogye Order stated, "About 50,000 people will hold lanterns in both hands to create a display of 100,000 lanterns."

On April 30th last year, the lantern parade departed from Dongdaemun in Seoul, passed through Jongno, and headed towards Jogyesa Temple. [Image source=Yonhap News]

This year’s Yeondeunghoe will feature ▲Traditional Lantern Exhibition ▲Harmony Yard ▲Lantern Parade ▲Great Unity (Hyehyang) Festival ▲Traditional Culture and Performance Yard ▲Lantern Play, among other events.

The Buddha’s Birthday lighting ceremony will take place on the 26th at 7 p.m. at Gwanghwamun Square. Inspired by the National Treasure Jeongamsa Sumano Pagoda, a 'Jeongamsa Sumano Pagoda Lantern' colored with hanji paper will be lit until May 28.

The lantern parade will start at 7 p.m. on May 20 from Heunginjimun Gate and continue to Jogyesa Temple. To ensure smooth progress, streets around Jongno will be controlled. This year, a special program for general citizens’ participation has been prepared. Approximately 250 citizens will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis at Jongmyo Shrine to make their own lanterns and join the parade.

After the lantern parade, a Great Unity Festival where citizens gather and enjoy together will be held at the Jonggak intersection. The program includes singing Yeondeunghoe songs, Ganggangsullae (a traditional Korean circle dance), and Flower Rain performances.

The traditional lantern exhibition has moved from Cheonggyecheon to Sejong-daero and Gwanghwamun Square and will be held from May 11 to 28. Additionally, lanterns in front of Jogyesa Temple and parade lanterns (5/11 ~ 5/28), the street of lanterns on Ujeongguk-ro (5/11 ~ 5/28), Jogyesa Temple Traditional Lantern Exhibition (5/11 ~ 5/28), and Bongeunsa Temple Traditional Lantern Exhibition (5/5 ~ 6/6) will be held.

The Yeondeunghoe Preservation Committee stated, "While it is good to have many people gather for Yeondeunghoe at pre-COVID levels, safety is the most important." They added, "We are working with the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the National Police Agency to prepare safety measures. About 1,000 safety personnel will be deployed on the day of the event."