Screen-addicted South Koreans compete in 'space out' contest Participants focus on ‘thinking nothing’ in public park in Seoul as retreat from stress and digital overload
Agence France-Presse
Sunday 22 May 2016 13.00 EDT
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/may/22/screen-addicted-south-koreans-compete-in-space-out-contest?CMP=twt_b-gdnnewsDozens of people in one of the world’s most wired nations took part Sunday in South Korea’s “space out” competition aimed at promoting a life free from stress and information overload.
About 60 contestants spent 90 minutes sitting in a public park in Seoul without talking, sleeping, eating or using any electronic devices during the event – under the slogan of Relax Your Brain.
The “space out” competition was launched by local activists in 2014. Sunday’s event – organised by Seoul city council – drew more than 1,500 online applicants for the available places in the competition.
“Let our brain – never free from information overload from a smartphone, TV or computer – relax!” the council said in a statement. “Let’s enjoy just thinking nothing!”
Blank-faced contestants – including a mother and a young child and middle-aged men in suits – sat or lay still in temperatures of over 30C (86F). Many held parasols against the sun.
Participants are also not allowed to look at their watches or move around too much. The person measured as having the most stable heart rate is judged the winner.
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