In an effort to emphasize the necessity of rest and relaxation, hundreds of South Koreans gathered at Han River Park in Seoul on Saturday, participating in a unique sleeping contest. Participants, dressed in comfortable sleepwear, aimed to send a significant message about the importance of taking breaks by lying down to rest for 90 minutes amidst various distractions.
The contest included challenges such as feather tickling, whispering, and mosquito noises to test participants’ ability to maintain calm and measure the quality of their rest through heart rate deviations. The participant with the most significant heart rate change from their baseline was deemed to have achieved the most restful sleep.
“Our country is known for its competitive society, and the importance of sleep seems to be undervalued,” said Son Ji-hong, a 24-year-old contestant, highlighting the societal pressures that often lead to neglecting rest.
South Korea faces a notable sleep deficit among its population, with a National Assembly report indicating that South Koreans sleep less on average than their counterparts in other OECD countries, getting only 7 hours and 41 minutes per night.