Could you do nothing for 90 minutes? In South Korea, it’s a sport.
A Korean champion of stillness reveals why giving your brain blank space can spark creativity, clarity, and calm.
Byung-jin Park, a 36-year-old entrepreneur and indie punk musician from Seoul, understands the power of doing nothing.
In May, he and his bandmates outlasted 100 competitors to win South Korea’s 2025 Space-Out Competition, an annual event where participants are judged on their ability to remain calm and motionless for 90 minutes.
No phones. No conversation. No nodding off. Just existing.
Launched in 2014 by visual artist Woopsyang as a public art project critiquing modern burnout, the competition has evolved into a cultural ritual along Seoul’s Han River, blending performance art, mindfulness, and a quiet challenge to the pervasive belief that silence equals stagnation.
Participants wear heart rate monitors, and winners are determined through a combination of biometric calmness and audience votes.
“As time passed, I started to forget where I was,” says Park. “It felt like my body had disappeared.”
Park’s win is more than just a quirky viral story–it reflects a deeper hunger for rest in a society overwhelmed by noise. A 2014 University of Virginia study found that many people preferred mild electric shocks over being alone with their thoughts for even 15 minutes.
But science suggests that stillness has value. ”Spacing out“ activates what neuroscientists call the brain’s default mode network–linked to creativity, emotional processing, and problem-solving.
“In an over-stimulated modern society, taking the time to reflect about one’s inner self and emotions can allow people to control their thoughts and actions,” says Hanson Park, a psychiatrist and an associate professor at Seoul National University’s Department of Anthropology. “This process can reduce stress-related hormones, and in the long-term can also be effective in relieving anxiety or depression.”
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Byung-jin’s winning strategy—slow abdominal breathing, focusing on a single point, and letting other thoughts disappear—shows how a skill as simple as “spacing out” can be surprisingly transformative. “Spacing out won’t solve all your problems,” he says, “but you will feel your thoughts transform. It’s super refreshing.”
Here’s what Korea’s champion of doing nothing can teach you about slowing down.
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC: What exactly does “spacing out” mean to you? Is it emptying your mind or letting it wander?
BYUNG-JIN PARK: For me, it’s about organizing my thoughts and emotions. Last weekend, while frantically working at my office, I thought, “Man, I really need to space out.” I got a lot of calls and met so many different people. Constantly working made me crave stillness. Everyone should find moments to space out–over coffee, music, or just looking at nature. It genuinely helps clear the mind.
Did you have a strategy going into the event?
I didn’t expect to win initially, but I definitely wanted to. I’m very competitive. Participants’ heart rates were publicly displayed, though we couldn’t see them. They were also checked manually every 15 minutes. I practiced abdominal breathing throughout the competition, deliberately calming myself whenever they measured my heart rate.
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We wore our punk outfits–pointy hair and spiky jackets–not just for fun, but to stand out and maybe distract other competitors. People are often surprised that, despite our loud music and appearance, we’re actually calm people too.
During the competition, what occupied your thoughts?
About ten percent of my mind was thinking about winning. Initially, I planned to use the time to ponder business decisions. But once seated, the loud host and large audience made it hard to focus on any single thought. Ironically, that made it easier to empty my mind. The hardest part was letting go of the idea that I should be doing something. Simply sitting still, doing absolutely nothing, is surprisingly challenging.
Why do you think people today struggle so much with doing nothing?
Smartphones play a huge role. I constantly fidget with mine, especially on the subway. It’s amusing to put your phone down occasionally in the metro and observe everyone around you–all glued to their screens. When I was younger, waiting naturally created opportunities to space out or daydream. Today, people are addicted to quick dopamine hits from platforms like YouTube Shorts and Instagram Reels. We’ve forgotten how to do nothing.
South Korea is known for its hyper-competitive culture. How does this affect perceptions of doing nothing?
Our society moves incredibly fast, especially when interacting with international clients. This efficiency is beneficial but can also feel exhausting. No one sits in parks just to think anymore–there simply isn’t time. Spacing out is viewed as strange or unproductive. Even outside of work, doing nothing draws criticism.
(What working long hours does to your body.)
It starts early. I have two children: aged 10 and six. Growing up, I didn’t attend many after-school institutes, but now my children are enrolled in several. My wife and I sometimes argue about this. Parents don’t always have the same vision about education. I feel sad seeing them so consumed by homework when they should be creative and playful. It reflects society’s broader discomfort with idleness.
What advice do you have for those struggling to slow down?
I need this advice too: force yourself to space out for at least 10 minutes each week. Even five minutes can help. You’ll find your thoughts spiraling initially, worries surfacing, and uncompleted tasks popping up in your head. But eventually, they’ll settle. You might find clarity or realize some issues aren’t as significant as they seem.
What was your biggest takeaway from the experience?
Personally, it broke my relentless daily routine: wake up, work, family, sleep. I have no time to feel bored or even recognize monotony. But this competition gave me an opportunity to break from that cycle.
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Future plans? Will you continue spacing out?
Absolutely. I’d like to meditate with my family and participate again next year if allowed.
