'Temple Stay' Spreading Among Young People, Finding Myself in Tranquility

"It's okay to turn it off for a while." Young people in their 20s and 30s, exhausted from the digital overconnectivity and fierce competition, are heading to mountain temples to 'log out' themselves.

Temple stay has rapidly emerged as a new sanctuary and recovery space for the burnout generation.

According to statistics from the Korean Buddhist Cultural Center, this year, the proportion of participants in temple stay from the 20s and 30s has surpassed 50% for the first time. Notably, there is a clear tendency to prefer 'rest-type temple stays' over special program participation.

Rest-type stays allow participants to stay at the temple autonomously without a fixed schedule, focusing on rest at their own pace.

What makes temple stay so attractive to young people? Experts point to the paradoxical sense of liberation that comes from 'forced disconnection.'

In the deep mountains where even smartphone signals are weak, participants can escape, even if just for a moment, from social networks (SNS) and the constant flood of information.

The moment they are free from the gaze of others and social pressure, they finally get the opportunity to focus on their inner selves.

The experience of temple stay is thoroughly analog. The sound of the bell waking up the dawn, the simple yet neat temple food (balwoo gongyang), and the sincere conversations during tea time with monks provide a deep sense of tranquility and reflection, unlike the superficial pleasures offered by digital devices.

In particular, tea time with monks is one of the programs that young people are most satisfied with. Seeking wisdom for life and sharing concerns during this time often becomes an opportunity to reset the direction of their lives.

Many participants express, "I enjoyed the freedom of doing nothing." This serves as an active 'mindfulness' activity that recharges depleted energy and restores the balance of a chaotic life.

This phenomenon is also connected to the changing values of the younger generation, who prioritize 'slow living' and 'meaningful experiences.' Rather than chasing material wealth or social success, there is a stronger tendency to place inner peace and mental health as life priorities.

Temple stay is a successful example of how Korea's precious traditional cultural heritage, the temple, can play a new role in modern society.

Spending a night in a tranquil mountain temple has become a precious journey to pause the play button in a complex world and meet the purest version of oneself.