Participants hold lanterns during the 2023 Lantern Parade in downtown Seoul in this file photo from May 20, 2023. Courtesy of Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism

This weekend, Seoul's night will take off its usual cloak of darkness, replaced instead by the luminous splendor of lotus-shaped lanterns adorning its streets.

This transformation is part of Seoul's annual Yeondeunghoe, also known as the Lotus Lantern Festival.

Occurring annually around the national holiday of Buddha's Birthday, which falls on May 15 this year, the Lotus Lantern Festival is a contemporary interpretation of a Buddhist tradition rooted in the 918-1392 Goryeo Kingdom. The event, now organized by the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, gained international recognition when it was inscribed as a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage in 2020.

During Goryeo, when Buddhism reigned as the state religion, Buddhist events were grandiose national affairs. Although state festivals ceased with the advent of the 1392-1910 Joseon Kingdom, which set neo-Confucianism as its ideology, the Buddhist celebrations remained as beloved folk traditions.

Today, this tradition has blossomed into a vibrant spring festival that is set to illuminate Seoul's downtown area this weekend, in addition to a plethora of unique Buddhist-themed events for all to enjoy.

Participants in the 2023 Lotus Lantern Festival make lotus-shaped lanterns in downtown Seoul in this file photo from May 21, 2023. Courtesy of Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism

Festival schedule

Last month, a ceremonial lighting event inaugurating the festival took place at central Seoul's Gwanghwamun Square. This year's centerpiece, inspired by the nine-story wooden pagoda of Hwangnyong Temple, will cast its glow over Seoul until next Wednesday.

Beyond the square, lantern exhibits extend to various locations, including Cheonggye Stream, Songhyeon Green Plaza and prominent Buddhist venues such as Jogye Temple and Bongeun Temple in Seoul.

The festival's highlight will take place this weekend, featuring standout events like the Buddhist Cheer Rally and the Lantern Parade.

The Buddhist Cheer Rally, starting at Dongguk University's Seoul Campus Track and Field at Saturday 4:30 p.m., promises lively Buddist-themed rhythm performances by some 40 teams consisting of more than 1,000 participants.

Following this, at 7 p.m., the Lantern Parade, boasting a whopping number of an estimated 100,000 lanterns, will embark from Heunginjimun Gate and conclude its journey at Jogye Temple. Some 70 groups of participants, accompanied by 50 cultural ambassadors from 23 countries worldwide, are set to partake in the parade.

International cultural ambassadors take part in the 2023 Lotus Lantern Festival's Lantern Parade in downtown Seoul in this file photo from May 20, 2023. Courtesy of Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism

A post-parade celebration is also set to take place at 9:30 p.m. at Jonggak Intersection, bringing together spectators and parade participants. The event will feature performances by acclaimed singers, cheer rallies and traditional Korean games like "ganggangsullae" (circle dance under the full moon) for everyone to enjoy.

On Sunday, a traditional cultural experience space will be set up on Ujeongguk Road in front of Jogye Temple from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Visitors can partake in various programs, including trying out temple food, Buddhist meditation for daily life and hands-on experiences with traditional crafts.

Continuing into Sunday evening, another lantern parade will illuminate the Insa-dong area of Jongno District. Following the parade, a stage in Gongpyeong-dong will host a diverse range of performances, including an extraordinary electronic dance music (EDM) festival themed around Buddhism.

The 2023 Lotus Lantern Festival's Lantern Parade follows Jongno, the main road through downtown Seoul, on May 20, 2023. Courtesy of Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism

Shedding traditional image

The recent efforts of the Korean Buddhist community, along with this year's festival, have garnered significant attention for their modernization of the religion's traditional image.

Korean Buddhism has long been associated with solemnity and seriousness, often leaving younger generations disconnected from its teachings due to unfamiliarity. However, thanks to recent, open-minded efforts of the Buddhist community, this perception has undergone a significant shift.

A distinctive matchmaking program, titled "I Am Jeolo," seasonally held at Incheon's Jeondeung Temple, is one prime example of these efforts.

Named after the wordplay of "jeol" (temple in Korean) and "I Am Solo," a popular TV show where unmarried individuals compete to become a couple, this program offers a unique dating experience where men and women seeking companionship interact at a Buddhist temple.

Launched by the Korean Buddhist Foundation for Social Welfare, this program has steadily gained popularity, with the most recent installment recording a high competition rate of up to 17:1 in selecting applicants.

Ven. Myojang, a key figure in organizing the program, expressed his thoughts on the idea in a recent interview.

"Buddhism is stepping forward to address issues of low birthrates and aging populations. We started the program with hopes that the natural encounters between men and women (in temples) may lead not only to relationships, but also to marriage and childbirth," he is quoted saying.

Ven. NewJean performs during the 2023 Lotus Lantern Festival's final ceremony in Seoul, May 21, 2023. Courtesy of Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism

Comedian Yun Sung-ho, also known as Ven. NewJean / Courtesy of Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism

Another figure actively contributing to the transformation of Buddhism's traditional image is the so-called "Ven. NewJean."

Ven. NewJean, conceived by comedian Yun Sung-ho who is also a devout Buddhist, derives his inspiration from the K-pop girl group NewJeans for his Dharma name. He recently garnered attention for captivating the younger generation with his release of EDM adaptations of Buddhist-themed music.

"My DJ performances have been invited to Taiwan and Malaysia and I've encountered many remarkable experiences that were entirely new to me. I'm deeply grateful for the open-minded acceptance and support I've received from the Buddhist community for my efforts to present Buddhism in an engaging manner," Yun shared in a recent interview, expressing his intention to persist in shaping Buddhism's image positively in the future.

Buoyed by the burgeoning popularity of the rejuvenated Buddhist culture, the Jogye Order expects a large turnout of more than 300,000 people for this year's Lotus Lantern Festival.