Buddha’s birthday is a national holiday in Korea. All of the Buddhist temples hang lanterns all around the temple grounds. The most famous in Busan is Samgwangsa (삼광사). This is a fairly new temple (built in the 1980’s) but can accommodate 10,000 worshipers.

This temple is fairly easy to get to. The closest subway station is Seomyeon 서면 and then you take a short cab ride from there.

Buddhism is prominent in Korea and competes with Christianity as the most popular religion. Buddhism flourished during the Shilla (up to  900 A.D.) and Koryo (900-1200 A.D.) dynasties but was repressed when the Confucian adhering Joseon Dynasty took power (1300-1900).

The view when you first walk up. This is a popular photography spot – dozens were here all set up with their tripods well before the sun went down

Inside the main hall

We also made another trip to Busan tower to check out the full size lanterns they had set up there.

Shannon and I in front of Admiral Yi 이순신 and Busan tower

The streets of Nampo-dong right between the subway station and Busan tower are always bustling with activity

Some of the lanterns on display

Some kind of break dancing competition