Sweet Dreams: Seoul Holds Annual ‘Power Nap Contest’ in Sleep-Deprived South Korea

Reflecto News | Lifestyle & Health | Asia

SEOUL — In a country where long work hours and a hyper-competitive education system have created a chronic sleep deficit, hundreds of exhausted citizens gathered in the South Korean capital on Saturday for an annual ritual of rest: the “Power Nap Contest.”

While most competitions reward speed, strength, or endurance, this unconventional event, held at the Seoul Forest, rewarded participants for one simple act: falling asleep — and staying asleep — in a public park .

Contestants lounged on mats, wrapped in blankets, wearing eye masks and comfortable pajamas as a live band played soft lullabies in the background. The winner was chosen based on resting heart rate, sleep duration, and, crucially, the contestant’s ability to maintain a serene expression .

💤 ‘Sleep Is a National Emergency’

South Korea consistently ranks among the most sleep-deprived nations in the developed world. According to a 2024 OECD report, South Koreans average approximately 7 hours and 41 minutes of sleep per night — among the lowest of member nations .

The country’s notoriously grueling work culture, combined with a private education system that keeps high schoolers studying past midnight, has fueled what experts call a “sleep recession.”

“We work too much, we study too much, and we sleep too little. This contest is a way to remind people that rest is not a weakness—it is a necessity.”
— Event Organizer

🏆 How to Win at Sleeping

Unlike typical athletic contests, the rules of the Power Nap Contest are simple: lie down, relax, and sleep. But there is a catch — participants must sleep in a public park while being observed by judges and spectators .

Organizers measure contestants’ heart rates using wearable devices, and a panel of judges evaluates each competitor’s sleep quality. Points are deducted for snoring too loudly — or for failing to fall asleep at all. The champion is crowned the person who sleeps the “most peacefully and beautifully.”

Last year’s winner, a 29-year-old office worker, told local media that she trained for weeks by forcing herself to take regular afternoon naps, a habit she said transformed her energy levels and mental health .

🧘 A Growing Trend

The Power Nap Contest is part of a broader cultural shift toward wellness in South Korea. Once dismissed as lazy, napping is now being embraced by major corporations, which have begun installing nap rooms and encouraging employees to rest during the workday .

The Seoul Metropolitan Government has even launched a “Nap Cafe” initiative, offering discounted admission to designated rest cafes during lunch hours .

Public health officials are also urging parents to enforce earlier bedtimes for their children, arguing that the country’s education-obsessed culture is creating a generation of chronically exhausted students who cannot learn effectively .

🥇 And the Winner Is…

After two hours of monitored rest, the judges declared Kim Jae-won, a 42-year-old office worker, the winner of the 2026 Seoul Power Nap Contest. Kim reportedly achieved a resting heart rate of 52 beats per minute and slept soundly for 90 minutes, despite the presence of photographers and a live band .

“I feel like a new person,” Kim said after being declared champion, blinking in the afternoon sunlight. “I didn’t realize how tired I was until I allowed myself to truly rest” .

📋 Key Takeaways

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