Space-Out Competition Draws South Koreans Ready to Zone Out

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Around 50 people took part in a South Korean contest to be named the best person at doing nothing.

The annual Space-out competition in Seoul on Sunday drew participants dressed to rest and impress, including some in pajamas and police uniforms. Some brought their favorite relaxation equipment, including a camping chair and a rocking horse.

Before taking to their blue mats to compete, contestants wrote on a wall poster explaining why they had chosen to spend the weekend zoning out in public, with strangers.

Contestants were led in a group stretch, to help them relax.

The main Space-out event ran for 90 minutes, with participants’ heart rates monitored constantly. Players faced elimination for checking their phones, falling asleep, or if they laughed, spoke, sang, danced, or drank a beverage not served by the organizer.

Ten people were then selected by the audience and whoever had the most stable heartbeat won the competition.

Kim Myeong Yeop, a TV producer for a popular local entertainment show, took the grand prize—a golden trophy and an award certificate—thanks to his steady heart rate.

“Workers like me have to use a lot of brain power and think a lot, and we have no time for rest,” he told The Associated Press. “It was really good to rest briefly, thanks to this opportunity.”

He credited his favorite local baseball team, Hanwha Eagles, for helping him to hone his space-out skills.

“I’ve been a Hanwha fan for 10 years. As I watch them play, no offense to the players, I naturally space out as they are losing. I’ve done lots of spacing out during the last 10 years, and that’s the attitude I went with for this competition, which resulted in success.”

Another Space-out competition will be held at Siheung Gaetgol Festival in South Korea from Sept. 24–25.