Jinju centres on Jinjuseong Fortress, a Goryeo-era city wall on the Namgang River, built to resist Japanese pirate raids and now the city's central park.
Highlights
- Jinjuseong Fortress, walkable in an hour or so, with the Jinju National Museum inside covering the Imjin War.
- The Jinju Namgang Yudeung (Lantern) Festival, every October — tens of thousands of lanterns along the river, a "Tunnel of Wishes," and nightly fireworks. Lanterns are lit 5pm–11pm; the full walk takes about 90 minutes.
- The riverfront itself, worth a walk even outside festival season.
Getting there
By bus or train from Seoul, the journey takes about 3–4 hours.
When to go
The lantern festival (early-to-mid October) is Jinju's headline event and worth timing a visit around — book accommodation near the fortress if you're going for it, since the area fills up.
More: Official Jinju tourism guide.