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Seoul’s ‘Power Nap’ Contest Spotlights South Korea’s Sleep Crisis

The city turns measured stillness into a public message about chronic exhaustion.

Overview

  • The Seoul Metropolitan Government staged its third public napping contest at Yeouido Hangang Park to draw attention to widespread sleep loss.
  • Contestants were told to arrive tired, wear comfortable clothes, and rest without phones or talking.
  • Organizers monitored pulse to judge steady relaxation, with reports citing a 40–60 beats per minute target.
  • An 80-year-old man won the event, outperforming younger entrants.
  • The contest drew viral posts that mixed jokes with concern over sleep stigma, and coverage cited data showing some young people sleep only three to four hours a night.