Korea Minting, Security Printing & ID Card Corporation Releases Commemorative Medal for 1,200-Year-Old Yeondeunghoe Festival

Korea Minting, Security Printing & ID Card Operating Corporation (KOMSCO) is launching a commemorative medal for the ‘Yeondeunghoe,’ a festival with a 1,200-year history.

On the 22nd, KOMSCO announced that it is planning and releasing the Yeondeunghoe commemorative medal in collaboration with the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism.

Images of two types of commemorative medals from the Pension Association. Provided by Korea Minting, Security Printing & ID Card Operating Corporation.

Yeondeunghoe is both a National Intangible Cultural Heritage and a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The commemorative medal was planned to widely promote and commemorate the value of Yeondeunghoe.

The commemorative medals will be released in two types: ▲Gold medal (purity 99.9%, weight 31.1g, diameter 40mm) ▲Silver medal (purity 99.9%, weight 31.1g, diameter 40mm).

The sale prices (including VAT) are 3,960,000 KRW for the gold medal and 220,000 KRW for the silver medal. Purchases can be made on a first-come, first-served (pre-order) basis from the 22nd of this month until the 2nd of next month through the KOMSCO online store.

KOMSCO colored the front of the commemorative medal with pink lotus flowers and engraved the phrase ‘UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity · Yeondeunghoe’ on it. The background depicts waves representing the light spreading widely from the lotus lantern.

The back side captures the scene of the Yeondeunghoe festival with a lantern parade involving people from all walks of life. A distinctive feature is the colorful painting on the lanterns held by the participants in the parade. The back also features the English inscriptions ‘Yeon Deung Hoe,’ ‘Lotus Lantern Festival,’ ‘Au999 (gold medal),’ ‘Ag999 (silver medal),’ and the KOMSCO hallmark.

Yeondeunghoe is a festival of lighting lanterns, symbolizing illuminating wisdom in a heart darkened by greed and attachment. According to KOMSCO, the commemorative medal focuses on expressing this meaning of Yeondeunghoe through its design.

Meanwhile, Yeondeunghoe was designated as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage in April 2012 and registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in December 2020.