Jinju’s Light, Encountered 365 Days a Year at Somangjinsan in Manggyeong-dong

October 2023: 2,761㎡ transforming ten days of festivals into a year-round exhibition

Jinju Namgang Yudeung Exhibition Hall opened in 2023 in time for the opening of the Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival. Built by Jinju City at a total project cost of 10.3 billion won, it is a complex cultural space with a total floor area of 2,761㎡, comprising one basement level and two above-ground floors. It is Korea's first specialized yudeung cultural complex, created so visitors can view the lanterns throughout the year rather than only during the autumn festival.

The main exhibition is located on basement level 1. This floor contains exhibition and hands-on experience spaces, while the first above-ground floor has office space and the second above-ground floor contains a café and rooftop garden. After viewing the exhibition, visitors can enjoy views toward the Namgang River from the rooftop garden and continue directly to the adjacent Somangjinsan Yudeung Theme Park.

Why the exhibition hall is located between Mangyeong-dong and the Namgang River: the historical background of Jinju's yudeung

Jinju's yudeung culture should be understood in connection with the Battles of Jinju Fortress during the Imjin War. Jinju Fortress was the site of the First Battle of Jinju in 1592, when Kim Si-min defeated the Japanese forces, and the location where civilians, officials, and soldiers fought to the end during the second battle on June 2, 1593. Located across the Namgang River in Mangyeong-dong, the exhibition hall faces the actual geographical setting of Jinju Fortress and the Namgang River.

Today's exhibition hall is a facility that brings this historical symbolism into everyday life beyond the festival. This is also why the yudeung displays include traditional and creative lanterns, competition-winning works, videos, and hands-on experiences. If you have visited Jinju Fortress first, you can cross the Namgang River to the exhibition hall and compare how wartime history, riverside scenery, and contemporary yudeung culture connect as content representing one city.

9 p.m. from March to November, 6 p.m. from December to February: entry closes 30 minutes earlier

Operating hours vary by season. From March through November, the hours are 10:00–21:00, with entry closing at 20:30. From December through February, the hours are 10:00–18:00, with entry closing earlier at 17:30. Visiting after work is possible in summer and autumn, but if you plan to see both the exhibition and rooftop garden, it is better to arrive more than one hour before closing.

The regular closing day is every Monday, and the hall is also closed on January 1, Lunar New Year's Day, and the day of Chuseok. If Monday is a public holiday, the exhibition hall remains open and closes on the next weekday instead. Programs and special activities on a given day may operate on separate schedules, so the safest approach is to check the schedule before departure by calling 055-762-8583 or visiting the official website at https://www.jinju.go.kr/yudeung.

Admission starting at 2,000 won for adults: check discount and exemption criteria first

Individual admission is 2,000 won for adults, 1,000 won for youths and military personnel, and 500 won for children. Group admission is 1,500 won for adults, 800 won for youths and military personnel, and 400 won for children. Children aged six and under, adults aged 65 and over, and people with disabilities are eligible for free admission, while Jinju residents and residents of sister cities receive a 50% discount.

The first thing to decide is whether to participate in a hands-on activity rather than focusing on the admission fee. A family program in June 2025 was limited to five families per session and a maximum of four people including guardians; it operated by advance reservation at 5,000 won per child, including admission. Since the activity content, capacity, and cost vary by program, do not assume that it is a permanent activity; check the notice for your visit date.

• Individual adult: 2,000 won
• Individual youth or military personnel: 1,000 won
• Individual child: 500 won
• General inquiries: 055-762-8583

How to use the dedicated parking lot at 207 Mangyeong-ro and the public parking lot opposite

The road-name address is 207 Mangyeong-ro, Jinju-si, Gyeongsangnam-do (Mangyeong-dong). A dedicated parking lot is available, and visitors are directed to use the public parking lot opposite when it is full. If you are driving, it is better during the festival or on weekend evenings to consider the public parking lot as an alternative rather than relying only on the dedicated lot.

Public transportation information lists the facility as accessible by Jinju City's demand-responsive Hamo Call Bus. However, because a specific route number, stop, and walking time have not been confirmed as fixed information in the exhibition hall's official guidance, the most accurate approach is to set “Jinju Namgang Yudeung Exhibition Hall” as the destination in a map app and check the day's route based on your starting point. The exhibition itself takes about one hour, including the rooftop garden; if you add a walk through Somangjinsan Yudeung Theme Park, a schedule of 1.5 to 2 hours is suitable.

Continue walking from the basement-level exhibition to Somangjinsan Yudeung Theme Park

The exhibition hall is structured so that exhibitions and hands-on activities are concentrated on basement level 1, followed by access to the rooftop garden on the second above-ground floor. Therefore, the basement exhibition is where you should allow sufficient time immediately after entering. If anyone in your group needs to use stairs or an elevator, it is advisable to ask the information desk about the route first. Publicly available visitor reviews mention wheelchair-accessible paths, wheelchairs available on site, and stroller accessibility.

Visitor guidance states that bringing food and beverages into the exhibition area is restricted, so it is better to finish or put away drinks and snacks before entering. After your visit, you can move directly to nearby Somangjinsan Yudeung Theme Park to combine the indoor exhibition with an outdoor walk. Conversely, if you only want the indoor exhibition rather than a long walk or outdoor photography, a short itinerary of about one hour is sufficient.

A 1.1 km connection across the Namgang River from Jinju Fortress and an option for rainy days

Jinju Fortress is a historic site listed as approximately 1.1 km from the exhibition hall. Inside the fortress are Chokseoknu Pavilion, Uigisa Shrine, Yeongnam Pojeongsa Gate, and the Jinju National Museum, making it easy to compare Jinju's yudeung culture with the history of Jinju Fortress during the Imjin War on the same day. The walk is expected to take around 20 minutes, but the time varies depending on the route across the river and the weather.

On rainy days or during periods of intense midsummer heat, focusing on the basement exhibition is relatively comfortable. However, the exhibition hall is not a replacement for the entire outdoor festival site; it is a place to view the forms, displays, and hands-on experiences of yudeung indoors. It is better suited to travelers who want to spend 1–2 hours viewing yudeung up close for an admission fee of 2,000 won and combine the visit with a walk around Jinju Fortress and the Namgang River, rather than those expecting the riverside installations and crowds of a large-scale festival.