There are so many special days in May, the month of family. There are Children's Day, Parents' Day, Teacher's Day, Coming of Age Day, and Buddha's Birthday. To celebrate Buddha's Birthday, a series of captivating events will unfold across temples and numerous locations throughout the city. A highlight is the enchanting Busan Lotus Lantern Festival, set against the urban canvas of Songsanghyeon Square, Busan Citizens Park, and their vicinities, right at the heart of Busan.

Immerse yourself in the spectacle of the city glow with vibrant and exquisite lotus lanterns. Be part of the mesmerizing 2568 Busan Lotus Lantern Festival, illuminating the city from April 26 to May 12.

** 2568 Busan Lotus Lantern Festival Highlights
Yeondeunghoe: May 11, 2024, at 6 pm, Busan Citizens Park
Lotus Lantern Parade: May 11, 2024, at 7:30 pm (Busan Citizens Park - Hamajeong Junction - Yangjeong Junction - Songsanghyeon Plaza)

Songsanghyeon Plaza has a beautiful forest full of pine trees, metasequoia, and a wide square. It is also equipped with various convenience facilities, making it a space where anyone can enjoy free time and relaxation. Colorful lotus lanterns with vibrant patterns filled the square beautifully during the Lotus Lantern Culture Festival. It is also fun to enjoy the golden sunlight glinting through the tree-lined road in the late afternoon and to see the lotus lanterns preparing to be lit.

The Dynamic Busan Madang and Yeoksa Madang, connected by a long tree-lined trail, are the main venues for the Lotus Lantern Culture Festival. There is a wide lawn square and a rest area where you can rest in between, making them a favorite place for visitors. During the Lotus Lantern Culture Festival, there was also an experience where you could put your own wish on a lantern for a fee of KRW 1,000.

The lotus lanterns installed here and there contain famous cartoon and movie characters as well as various themes representing Buddhism, so adults and children alike can enjoy the lotus lantern festival together.

As darkness falls and the lanterns light up, people gather in groups of threes and fives. The colorful lotus lanterns that shine against the darkened night sky present a beautiful scenery contrasting with the daytime view. From lotus lanterns filled with Buddhist spirits to lotus lanterns with colorful stories, they harmoniously blend together to exude traditional beauty. People who light up their wish lanterns with their heartfelt desires look happy and peaceful.

Yeondeunghoe, the festival’s pinnacle, is scheduled for 6 p.m. on May 11 in Busan Citizens Park. The evening will reach its zenith with the Lotus Lantern Parade, the festival’s grand highlight, starting at 7:30 p.m. The section of the Lotus Lantern Parade will pass through Busan Citizens Park - Hamajeong Junction - Yangjeong Junction and end at Songsanghyeon Plaza. So do not miss out on the Lotus Lantern Parade that can soothe the regret of missing the Busan Lotus Lantern Culture Festival.