Korean Dictionary
How to say "Sky Lantern" in Korean
“Sky Lantern” in Korean is 풍등 (pronounced "pungdeung").
풍등
pungdeung
Usage & Context
풍등 are paper sky lanterns lit and released into the night sky during Korean festivals as wishes are made. They are especially popular during events near beaches and during 정월대보름 celebrations. The sight of dozens of glowing 풍등 floating upward has become an iconic image of Korean festival culture.
Example Sentence
하늘로 올라가는 풍등에 소원을 담았어요.
I put my wish into the sky lantern rising into the heavens.
How to use 풍등 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Sky Lantern” is 풍등, romanized as pungdeung.
Usage tip
Learn this word together with a complete Korean sentence. Meaning often depends on particles, politeness level, and word order.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 풍등.
Pronunciation Guide
풍 (pung) sounds like 'poong' in 'poong-poong' (a sound effect) or 'pungent' but with a 'oo' sound like 'moon' and an 'ng' at the end. 등 (deung) sounds like 'dung' in 'dung beetle' but with a softer 'd' and a 'eu' vowel sound (like the 'u' in 'but' but more rounded) followed by 'ng'.
More Example Sentences
Describing the visual beauty of sky lanterns.
밤하늘을 수놓은 풍등들이 정말 아름다웠어요.
The sky lanterns adorning the night sky were truly beautiful.
Explaining the traditional use of sky lanterns.
풍등에 소원을 적어 하늘로 날려 보냈어요.
I wrote my wish on a sky lantern and sent it flying into the sky.
Discussing practical regulations or safety issues.
안전 문제로 풍등 날리기가 금지된 지역도 있어요.
There are also areas where flying sky lanterns is prohibited due to safety concerns.
Cultural Context
풍등, or sky lanterns, are a captivating sight at Korean festivals, especially during Jeongwol Daeboreum (the first full moon of the lunar new year) and various regional events. People write their wishes on the lanterns before releasing them into the night sky, believing their hopes will ascend to the heavens. While visually stunning and a popular tourist attraction, safety concerns regarding fire hazards have led to regulations or prohibitions on flying 풍등 in certain areas, particularly during dry seasons.
Editorial note
We review entries like 풍등 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
풍등 날리기
Flying sky lanterns
풍등 축제
Sky lantern festival
소원 풍등
Wish lantern
Related Expressions
연등
yeondeung
Lotus lantern (often for Buddha's Birthday)
소원 빌다
sowon bilda
To make a wish
축제
chukje
Festival
불꽃놀이
bulkkotnori
Fireworks
More Holidays & Festivals Words
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