Lights of Korea – Jinju Silk Lanterns, Korean Cultural Center
contemporary
- 26 Aug 2026 12:31 PM - 4 Sep 2026 6:00 PM
- Korean Cultural Center
There is a city in South Korea where light tells a story. Where silk is more than just a textile - it is identity, memory, and art. This summer, a remarkable piece of that heritage has arrived in Budapest.
Lights of Korea – Jinju Silk Lanterns, a unique exhibition showcasing the cultural legacy of Jinju, is open to visitors at the Korean Cultural Center until 4 September.
The exhibition takes visitors to Jinju, one of South Korea’s most important cultural cities, where the traditions of silk production and the poetic world of floating lanterns have been intertwined for centuries.
At the heart of the exhibition are extraordinary light installations crafted from silk, translating a cultural heritage spanning more than a thousand years into the language of contemporary visual art. More than 1,400 silk lanterns transform the exhibition space into a captivating landscape of light and color.
The tradition of Jinju’s floating lanterns dates back to the Imjin War of 1592.
At the time, lanterns floating on the Nam River served both as a means of communication and as symbols of hope. Today, they have become enduring symbols of community, remembrance, and peace. Every year, tens of thousands of lanterns illuminate the city during the world-famous Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival.
The exhibition not only presents a historic tradition but also demonstrates how industrial heritage can be reinterpreted as a contemporary cultural experience.
Jinju is one of the world’s leading silk-producing regions, renowned for its exceptional silk craftsmanship for more than a century. Today, the city has expanded beyond its textile roots, embracing silk as an essential element of design, art, and urban identity.
The Budapest presentation is part of the KOFICE Traveling Korean Arts programme, an international initiative bringing both contemporary and traditional Korean arts to audiences around the world.
Having already been successfully presented in Southeast Asia and Germany, the exhibition now opens its doors to Hungarian visitors.
Through the exhibition, visitors can explore Jinju’s cultural heritage, silk-making traditions, and iconic lantern festival while immersing themselves in a unique sensory experience. It is a world where light preserves memories, silk tells stories, and tradition finds new forms in the present day.
Lights of Korea – Jinju Silk Lanterns, a unique exhibition showcasing the cultural legacy of Jinju, is open to visitors at the Korean Cultural Center until 4 September.
The exhibition takes visitors to Jinju, one of South Korea’s most important cultural cities, where the traditions of silk production and the poetic world of floating lanterns have been intertwined for centuries.
At the heart of the exhibition are extraordinary light installations crafted from silk, translating a cultural heritage spanning more than a thousand years into the language of contemporary visual art. More than 1,400 silk lanterns transform the exhibition space into a captivating landscape of light and color.
The tradition of Jinju’s floating lanterns dates back to the Imjin War of 1592.
At the time, lanterns floating on the Nam River served both as a means of communication and as symbols of hope. Today, they have become enduring symbols of community, remembrance, and peace. Every year, tens of thousands of lanterns illuminate the city during the world-famous Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival.
The exhibition not only presents a historic tradition but also demonstrates how industrial heritage can be reinterpreted as a contemporary cultural experience.
Jinju is one of the world’s leading silk-producing regions, renowned for its exceptional silk craftsmanship for more than a century. Today, the city has expanded beyond its textile roots, embracing silk as an essential element of design, art, and urban identity.
The Budapest presentation is part of the KOFICE Traveling Korean Arts programme, an international initiative bringing both contemporary and traditional Korean arts to audiences around the world.
Having already been successfully presented in Southeast Asia and Germany, the exhibition now opens its doors to Hungarian visitors.
Through the exhibition, visitors can explore Jinju’s cultural heritage, silk-making traditions, and iconic lantern festival while immersing themselves in a unique sensory experience. It is a world where light preserves memories, silk tells stories, and tradition finds new forms in the present day.
Place: Korean Cultural Center
Address: 1023 Budapest, Frankel Leó út 30–34.
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