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May 18, 2026

Seoul’s Lotus Lantern Festival blends ancient traditions with robot monks

Seoul's Lotus Lantern Festival (Yeondeunghoe) took over Jongno on Saturday, celebrating Buddha's Birthday with 50,000 participants and 100,000 lanterns. This year added a modern twist: robot monks and self-driving robots joined traditional Buddhist rituals and cultural programs. The festival's theme, "Peace in the mind, Harmony in the world," encouraged people to find inner wisdom and share it with others.
Why It Matters
It's a major cultural event that shuts down central Seoul streets and offers a unique blend of spirituality and innovation worth experiencing, plus insight into Korean Buddhist traditions.
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