Volunteering at the Yeondeunghoe Festival
In the spring of 2026, I became a participant in LLF Friends (Lotus Lantern Festival Friends)—an international program supporting the Yeondeunghoe festival, one of South Korea’s largest traditional cultural events. The program unites Korean and international participants who learn about the festival’s history and traditions, assist in organizing its events, and share Korean culture with a global audience.
Project Goals and Mission
The mission of the project I was part of was to preserve and pass on the tradition of Yeondeunghoe so that it would unite people regardless of nationality or religion. Our task was not simply to attend the festival, but to become a part of it: to learn the history of Yeondeunghoe, participate in the preparation and execution of events, engage with visitors, and represent the festival to an international audience.
My Role in LLF Friends
Lantern Making
One of the first practical assignments was participating in the creation of traditional Chinese lanterns, which were later used during the festive procession. Here, my work was part of the overall preparation for the festival: we glued the lanterns by hand, painted them, working alongside other program participants, and prepared them for use in one of the most prominent events of Yeondeunghoe—the Lantern Parade.Preparation for Jogyesa Temple
I also helped decorate the Jogyesa Temple grounds for the festival.
Preparing the space became a distinct part of the volunteer work: we hung traditional lanterns around the Buddhist temple and helped set the environment where the main festival events later took place.
Cultural Workshops
During the festival, I conducted workshops on creating traditional paper lotuses. The Yeondeunghoe festival in downtown Seoul hosts activities for everyone, allowing people to connect with traditions and feel part of them.My role was to engage with visitors at my booth, explain the step-by-step process, and assist them in creating their own pieces independently.Presentation of Russia
During one of the festival ceremonies, I also participated in an interview. I was asked to discuss the spread of Buddhism in Russian regions—primarily in Buryatia, Kalmykia, and Tuva, where it is a significant part of the cultural tradition—and to compare these traditions with Korean Buddhism. Furthermore, I shared my personal experience encountering Buddhist culture in Korea and discussed how my understanding of it evolved through direct immersion in that environment.
Participation in the Lantern Parade
The festival culminated in a procession of traditional large lanterns through the center of Seoul.We moved in organized groups, transporting the large structures along the parade route together.Results
I was delighted to be part of this project and to see the festival not just as a beautiful event from the outside, but as the result of collective work. For me, it was significant that my own work became part of events that hold great meaning for people and Korean culture.Furthermore, LLF Friends proved to be a valuable experience entirely for myself. Through the program, I was able to connect with Buddhist culture and traditions not as a tourist observing from the sidelines, but as an active participant. I spent time within the temple grounds, helped prepare for the festival, participated in the ceremonies and parade—and for a time, I became a part of that environment, seeing it from the inside.
Coordination with HSE
There was no formal coordination between HSE and the LLF Friends project; however, my participation became possible through academic mobility—I was in Korea as part of an exchange program at Kookmin University, and the volunteering took place during that period.
