WEB CHUTNEY

There is an interesting annual competition held in Seoul, South Korea, that involves participants sitting down and doing absolutely nothing.

The Space Out Competition, where people are challenged to stare off into space and enjoy doing nothing, began as a conceptual art piece by visual artist WoopsYang in 2014.

The winner this year was a Shin Hyo-Seob, a South Korean rapper. He was determined as the most spaced out, having the steadiest heart rate of the candidates left.

The event lasts for just 90 minutes, but in that time contestants must continue to stare off and daydream without getting distracted. That means no phones, no sleeping, no giggling, and no getting up and running around.

Contestants’ heart rates are tracked every 15 minutes to ensure they’re actually chilling out, rather than just faking a state of zen, and whoever has the most consistently relaxed heart rate throughout wins.

Contestants can be disqualified for laughing, using technology and sleeping, but can make requests when they’re thirsty or have to use the restroom.

According to WoopsYang, the competition was intended to encourage mobile-addicted, stressed out South Koreans to slow down.