Robot monks lead the Lotus Lantern Festival in South Korea, ahead of Buddha's birthday on 24 May. Thousands of lanterns illuminated central Seoul’s Jongno District on Saturday (16 May) as a huge crowd of people gathered for an annual parade. This year, the center of attraction was the unusual addition of humanoid monks in the festivities. The 130cm tall robot monks were dressed in traditional gray and brown robes. They were seen waving at the spectators and joining their palms in prayer. South Korea's Lotus Lantern Festival, locally known as Yeon Deung Hoe, has been recognised as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity since 2020.