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Seoul's Sleep Contest: Snooze to Win!
2 May
Summary
- Seoul hosted its third annual power nap contest in a park.
- Participants dressed as royalty or animals to showcase sleeping skills.
- South Korea is known as an overworked and sleep-deprived nation.
Hundreds of young South Koreans flocked to a Seoul park on Saturday for the city government's third annual power nap contest. The event, held under a spring sun, invited participants to showcase their napping abilities, a scarce commodity in the notoriously overworked metropolis.
Participants were required to wear sleep-themed costumes and arrive tired and well-fed. The competition drew individuals struggling with exhaustion from demanding schedules, including students juggling exams and part-time jobs, and office workers facing demanding shifts and long commutes.
This recurring event sheds light on South Korea's status as one of the most sleep-deprived nations among OECD members. As participants donned eye masks and officials monitored their heart rates for signs of deep sleep, the contest underscored the widespread issue of insufficient rest affecting the population.
The winner of the contest was an elderly man in his 80s, with a 37-year-old office worker securing second place, highlighting the broad appeal and need for such rest-focused activities.
