On May 5th, 2025, South Korea celebrates Buddha’s Birthday, or Seokga Tansinil, honoring Siddhartha Gautama’s birth with vibrant lanterns and sacred ceremonies. This national holiday transforms temples and city streets into hubs of Korean Buddhist culture, inviting travelers to join the festivities. From Seoul’s lively festival to Busan’s glowing hillside, Yangsan’s historic serenity, and Hapcheon’s tranquil heritage, these destinations offer unique ways to experience the day. Here’s your guide to celebrating and planning your visit.
Where to Celebrate Buddha’s Birthday
Seoul: YeonDeungHoe
Seoul’s YeonDeungHoe, the Lotus Lantern Festival, lights up the capital on May 5th around Jogyesa Temple and Jongno streets. Thousands of hanji-paper lanterns, many lotus-shaped, illuminate the area, paired with a grand parade and traditional performances. Visitors can join the gwanbul ritual at Jogyesa, pouring scented water over a baby Buddha statue, try lantern-making, and enjoy free vegetarian meals. More details are at www.llf.or.kr.
Busan: Samgwangsa
On Busan’s Baekyangsan Mountain, Samgwangsa Temple hosts a dazzling Lotus Lantern Festival for Buddha’s Birthday. Up to 40,000 lotus lanterns in pink, blue, and yellow cover the grounds, some shaped like pagodas or dragons, with a parade spilling into Busan’s streets. Exclusive to Busan—no Seoul branch—this Cheontae-order temple offers gwanbul ceremonies, sutra chants, and stalls with rice cakes and vegetarian tofu dishes.
Yangsan: Tongdosa
In Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do, Tongdosa Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Korea’s Three Jewel Temples, marks May 5th with quiet elegance. Founded in 646 AD, it houses Buddha’s relics instead of outdoor statues. Lotus lanterns decorate the Geumgang Gyedan (Diamond Altar) and courtyards, glowing softly. Guests join the gwanbul ritual, share vegetarian meals like rice porridge, and explore 65 historic buildings nestled in Mt. Yeongchuksan’s pines.
Gyeongsangnam-do: Haeinsa
In Hapcheon, Gyeongsangnam-do, an hour from Daegu, Haeinsa Temple celebrates May 5th with rows of lotus lanterns. Known for the UNESCO-listed Tripitaka Koreana—81,258 wooden blocks of Buddhist texts—its lanterns light the courtyard, complementing prayers and the gwanbul ritual. Visitors share vegetarian meals, like lotus root soup or rice porridge, in a serene mountain setting.
A Luminous Celebration
On May 5th, 2025, expect bustling crowds at Seoul’s YeonDeungHoe, Samgwangsa’s radiant festival, Tongdosa’s and Haeinsa's sacred grounds, as South Korea honors Buddha’s Birthday. Mornings offer quieter moments for rituals, while at night, the lanterns cast a breathtaking glow—though be prepared for packed temples and streets. Respect sacred areas by following no-photo signs and dressing modestly. With shared meals and open-hearted giving, these celebrations weave visitors into a vibrant tapestry of compassion and light, making for a memorable holiday experience.
