Can you sit still and be silent for 90 minutes? Korea’s Space-Out Competition, coming to Hong Kong, makes you take a break

By Jung Da-hyun A signboard for participants in the annual Space-Out Competition in Seoul, Korea, on May 12 read: “I needed some time to rest”. To mark its 10th anniversary, this year’s event was expanded to include 10 additional teams. A total of 77 teams, with 117 individuals, took part in the competition that is part performance art, part simply chilling out, held at Jamsu Bridge at Banpo Hangang Park. The rules were simple: participants had to remain still and silent for 90 minutes. Checking phones, nodding off, sleeping, laughing, chatting, singing, dancing, or consuming anything other than the water provided led to disqualification. Every 15 minutes, participants’ heart rates were checked; those with a more stable or falling heart rate received higher scores. Meanwhile, the audience voted for participants based on the visual appeal of their performance. The winner was chosen from the top 10, based on their heart rate score. Woopsyang, a pseudonym for the visual artist behind this competition, explained her motivation for creating the event, highlighting the value of “doing nothing” in today’s hectic society. “People are glued to their smartphones from morning until night, leaving no real downtime. The constant influx of information in our stress-filled, competitive world prompted me to organise this competition as a means for people to find a moment of rest,” she said. Reflecting on her own experience with burnout as a visual artist about 10 years ago, she said she remembered the anxiety she felt when she allowed herself to do nothing at that time. The experience led her to ponder why doing nothing seemed so unsettling. Then she realised that many individuals around her were struggling and overworking. So she conceived the idea of creating a space for people to momentarily pause their busy routines and simply “space out”. Many participants expressed their motives for joining the competition on a board set up for this. Most highlighted the common desire to escape their busy daily life and seek rest. One international participant, who joined the event with his son and wife, wrote: “I want to tell my son that it is OK to space out and take time for your health”. Participants from diverse professions, such as data linguists, flight technicians and firefighters, donned uniforms reflective of their respective jobs during the competition. Others showcased their individuality by wearing outfits including a sauna wrap, prison garb and even a watermelon costume. The competition started with the sound of a whistle, prompting participants to slide into deep concentration, each spacing out in their own manner, for instance, by blurring the focus of their eyes. Participants were allowed to signal a request for water or massages, or convey any discomfort, by using coloured cards. The first elimination came 35 minutes after the competition started. “I believed victory was assured, but the intense sunlight made it more challenging than I expected,” said Hong Ji-woo, a 24-year-old college student. A firefighter from Korea’s Gyeonggi province took part with his two children. “With spring comes a surge in fires and emergency calls. I was constantly on edge, but this competition provided a rare opportunity to recover and rejuvenate,” he said. Former Korean national team short-track speed skater Kwak Yoon-gy and K-pop girl group Billie member Tsuki also took part. Kwak joined with fellow short track athletes Park Jong-hyun and Seo Bum-seok, and secured third place. “After competing at the Olympics five times and engaging in competitive sports, I sought nothing more than rest. This event offered a chance for complete relaxation,” Kwak said after winning the prize. “A ringing bell signifies the beginning or the final lap in short track, so my heart was pounding at the very last moment when the bell rang to notify the end of the competition.” Kim Hyun-ji, who works at a hospital in Pohang, North Gyeongsang province, secured second place, and freelance announcer Kwon So-ah won first place. Imagine a brief moment where everyone across the globe stops and rests by doing nothing. It will also contribute to alleviating stress Woopsyang, visual artist behind the competition “I often find myself zoning out while riding the subway or bus. So I tried to space out just like I usually do,” Kwon said. The competition’s global reach has been steadily expanding. The inaugural international version of the event was held in Beijing, in 2015. There was also an edition in Hong Kong, in 2018, and it is scheduled to take place in the city again this October. Woopsyang attributes the competition’s international appeal to a shared understanding of the value of taking time out to do nothing. “I used to believe that Korea is the busiest and most competitive society. However, after speaking with participants from around the world, I realised that many share a common sentiment of being overwhelmed with busyness,” she said. Her ultimate vision is to establish a global spacing-out day, creating a performance of a moment in which the world collectively pauses, if only for a short time. “Imagine a brief moment where everyone across the globe stops and rests by doing nothing. It will also contribute to alleviating stress,” she said. Read the full story at The Korea Times. Like what you read? Follow SCMP Lifestyle on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You can also sign up for our eNewsletter here.