Transcription
[music] >> We're here [music] to bring a new type of news show. New insights, new styles, and new topics [music] every day. We are News Generation. Bringing news just [music] for you. It's Friday, May 22nd, here in Seoul on East 19, and this is News Generation. [music]
Joining us today is Q. Thank you for having me. Happy Friday. Thank you for coming in. Also, Fabi is with us. >> Happy end [music] of the week. >> Happy Friday, and both are here to speak on behalf of people in their 20s and 30s. So, we're finally at the end of the work week, but this Friday is even more exciting because we have a long weekend ahead of us. But, this holiday has a very distinct look and feel across the country. So, Q, what does Korea look like during Buddha's birthday week?
So, first of all, Buddha's birthday is celebrated on May 24th, because and because it's on a Sunday this year, the following Monday, the following day, which is Monday, will be a substitute holiday where everyone takes a day off. Yay. Ooh. In Korean, it's called Buddha's birthday, and to commemorate this religious day, colorful lotus lanterns are hung across the streets, temples, and the neighborhoods from weeks before to create a colorful and vibrant festive mood. It may look a little unfamiliar to the younger generation, but in Korea, Buddha's birthday is celebrated just as big as Christmas or even perhaps Halloween. Yeah. Mhm. >> [clears throat] >> And it does really make the whole city feel festive, and at at the same time, surprisingly also peaceful. So, for someone experiencing it from abroad, atmosphere can feel especially unique. So, what stood out to you, Fabio, most about celebrating Buddha's birthday here in Korea?
Well, it surprised me that you can definitely tell that it's Buddha's birthday. The whole city is decorated with these beautiful lanterns, which are called yeondeung in Korean. And sometimes when you even go to the temples, let's say for example, Jogyesa Temple, which is in the center of Seoul, you can see these beautiful lantern sculptures, which beautiful drawings. So, the whole city is just decorated to celebrate this festivity. And I have to say, it's quite different from what I experienced in Spain. You see, Spain is a pretty Catholic country. Right. So, the whole cultural context is quite different and the aesthetic of it all really provides something that I've never seen. So, it was very fun for me. And throughout these 3 years, I have been going to temples during this holiday. And I noticed that there's a lot of people, not only tourists, but also people who are devoted and are really, you know, using the whole meaning of this beautiful day. Mhm. I actually did go to Jogyesa in the beginning of the month and they were already had some of the decorations up, like you mentioned the lanterns. They had hung it up. So, it was really beautiful just to look up and see all those colorful lanterns as well. >> I always tell people that this is probably one of the best seasons to visit Korea because when you go to the temples usually, well, they're already beautiful. But when once they are decorated with all of the lanterns and even the sculptures, it just gets, you know, it's fascinating. >> Right. There's so much to really see. It's really one of those holidays that completely changes the atmosphere of the city. It's interesting how a religious holiday can also become such a shared cultural experience for everyone in the city. And that's why we're going to talk more about this. But first, let's take a look at the screen. Buddha's birthday, a national holiday in South Korea, is [music] marked by glowing lotus lanterns, temple ceremonies, and colorful street parades. And with this year's celebrations larger than ever and more young people taking [music] part, attention is turning to the religion's growing appeal among the younger generations. [music]
Stay on News Generation we take a closer look at Buddhism's resurgence [music] in South Korea and why it is resonating with younger people and how the centuries-old faith is reinventing itself as [music] a modern cultural trend. Just as we saw in the video, Buddhism is attracting a new generation of young followers in South Korea. So, how exactly popular is Buddhism among I guess young Koreans these days, Kim?
So, even among young people who aren't Buddhist, growing number of Gen Zs and millennials in Korea are actually getting into Buddhist-inspired content and culture. Now, earlier this month Buddhist Expo attracted a staggering 250,000 visitors and a large portion of them were actually young people. And what's even more surprising is that nearly half of the attendees weren't actually Buddhist. Mhm. And riding that trend, Buddhist-themed merchandise is also booming. For example, things like prayer bead bracelets, miniature Buddha statues, and even moktak-shaped toys, which is a traditional hollow wooden percussion instrument used in Korean Buddhist ceremonies, meditation, and daily chanting. But these aren't seen as old-fashioned. They're actually being redesigned to match younger generations' aesthetics, being stylish, and minimal, and even surprisingly trendy. Now, even Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse, a novel that's more than a century old, is making a comeback in Korea. According to bookstore rankings from March this year, it actually climbed all the way to number eight on the best-seller list. Wow, so that is really a remarkable shift, especially considering many that are actually going to these temples are not even always practicing practicing Buddhist. And this trend is not limited to Korea as Buddhism is also drawing interest from young people and travelers overseas. So, how are international visitors I guess experiencing Buddhism in Korea, Fabian?
I think Korea offers a lot of different opportunities to experience it. First, we need to analyze why there is interest in the first place. So, I think there's something about Buddhism, not only the aesthetic, but also the philosophy behind it that really appeals, especially to the millennial taste of the early 21st century. We see this in interior design, but also in how, you know, this wellness culture and meditation apps and all of these different variations that are rooted in Buddhism are becoming more and more popular. So, I think Westerners really look up to this specific religion with different eyes, not necessarily as believers or holders of the gift of faith, but rather as people who want to experience a different way of thinking. And I think South Korea really offers that perfectly with opportunities like temple stays, where you can just visit a temple, stay there with a monk, have tea with a monk, and even learn temple cuisine. It's also a great way to detox from everyday life and external devices. And I have a lot of friends and family members who have done so, and they have a lot of fun. I haven't tried it myself, but I would love to do it in the future. Plus, if we're mentioning about other opportunities, I always like going to the museums here in Korea, and one of them is the National Museum of Korea. One of the biggest treasures that they have there is inside a very special room that is called Sayeonbang, and I really recommend visiting it because you see the statues of Buddha that are so beautiful, and you can really feel the essence and the energy. And even when you go to the gift shops in these museums, you have a lot of little items that are inspired in Buddhist culture, and I think that also appeals to that taste that we have been talking about before. Right, there's so much to consume. Like you say, there's experiences that people like can actually participate in. There's this cute merchandise as well. There's a lot to do. So, temple stays offer a unique way to unplug and experience a different pace of life. And as more people discover Buddhism through culture and travel, the religion is finding new ways to connect with modern audiences. So, we also wanted to hear directly from our viewers. So, we ran a poll on the Arirang News YouTube channel asking, "What would you like to experience at a Buddhist temple?" And here's what the results showed. So, according to our poll, nearly half of the respondents, [music] or 49%, said meditation would be their top choice if they visited a Buddhist temple, making it by far the most popular [music] experience. Temple cuisine classes came in second at 25%, followed by tea talks with a monk at 20%, [music] and Buddhist painting drew the least interest among these with just 6%. So, this shows most people are looking for a chance to slow down, clear the mind, and enjoy a more meaningful, hands-on experience. And to get a more personal, in-depth perspective on this, we're actually going to talk to a young person who actively enjoys Buddhist experiences. And that conversation will take place right after the break, so don't go anywhere. News Gen wants to hear from you. >> [music] >> Go to YouTube and search our channel Arirang News. Click posts. And cast your vote [music] in the poll. Make a new type of news with us.
Joining us today is India from the US who has enjoyed Buddhist culture experiences here in Korea. So, hello India, thank you so much for connecting with us today. Hello, thank you for having me. So, India, so what Buddhist experience have you had? And which of them was your favorite?
So, some of these experience I've had was going to a meditation class, was going to see uh a Cheonggyecheon seeing the little lanterns, and also doing a temple stay. Now, the temple stay is by far the best one I have done because it's kind of like a last-minute plan, and it was pretty interesting to be able to experience that versus uh not being able [laughter] to in a way. Um for the temple stay, uh my friends and I, we had hiked all the way up to a mountain with our luggage and our baggage, and we got to do a nice little tour, and it was so nice to have to be able to see all this green and all this to be surrounded by nature and to be surrounded by peace, and it was kind of refreshing and a change of pace. Uh while we were there, we got to pick our dorms, we got to go see the temple. We weren't able to see where the monks lived, but we're able to see the outside part, and we were able to learn more about like the monks' mindset of how they are trying to practice spiritual cultivation and how they are still people who do mess up, but they are taking the extra mile to become to become better. Uh we are we're able to do a couple ceremonies, one in the evening and one at night, and specifically the one at night was my favorite because I'm a night owl. I love looking at the stars. I love the fact that we were able to calm our minds before going to bed, and then before we went to bed, the monk had gave us like a white candle, and we were able to like write a wish on the candle, and I thought it was like a very nice little um experience to have. So, it's one of my favorites. Wow, India, thanks for sharing that experience. Um but what first sparked your interest in Buddhism and inspired you to attend these Buddhist events? Mhm.
What first sparked my interest in Buddhism was when I was little, I saw a TV show of a guy meditating and talking about Nirvana. And I was like, that sounds amazing. I should try that, too. Not knowing what Nirvana is, not knowing what the person is wearing, why they shave their head, why they're meditating. So, that was like my first interest into Buddhism into Buddhism. And just from then on, I did not know enough information because I'm reading these I'm reading these like short little pages and short articles about Buddhism or about cultivation about meditation, and I'm not fully understanding it. So, I I like to go to events where I actually get to sit down with monks and try to understand what they're telling me. Try to follow some spiritual ways that they try to um What's it called? Try to follow some ways where they try to silence their minds and focus on the present in the now and doing volunteer work in a way. I'm so jealous about your experience this India. Well, you see, India is one of my very good friends here in South Korea. And hopefully we get to do something together related to Buddhism in the future. But, I want to know what Buddhist experience would you like to do next in the future?
Next? One [clears throat] thing I have to do next time is I have to go to the lantern festival. I keep missing it because I'm either working or I don't know the dates. So, I have to do that next time. And one day, if I get enough money to travel, I would love to go to Tibet or to Thailand and do like a three-day temple stay there. Now, if I do that, I would definitely have to learn some basic language, [laughter] but I would love to go there and visit a different type of Buddhism because here in Korea there's like some mixed with Confucianism Confucianism, there's some mixed with just cultivation, there's some mixed with Nirvana. And like I would like to see how different it is with within different countries. and I think it'll be very amazing and eye-opening experience for me. Right. We were actually just saying before the show how with your name you're meant to I guess you're meant to really explore this religion. So, I hope you do get to have more Buddhist-related experiences here in Korea, too. So, thank you so much for joining us today, Andrea. Thank you for having me. >> Thank you.
We just spoke with someone who enjoys attending Buddhist events, sharing which experiences she's tried, what first sparked her interest in Buddhism, and what she hopes to experience next. And after hearing that firsthand, it's clear that for many young people Buddhism offers more than just a religious experience. So, why is Buddhism then resonating so strongly with the younger generations these days, Kim?
So, compared to some other religions, Buddhism in Korea is often seen as less restrictive and more focused on meditation and self-reflection, which I agree with. Uh for many people, temples feel more like uh like peaceful places to rest and recharge rather than spaces tied to strict religious obligations. Uh that's one reason why many Gen Zs and millennials are drawn to it. Uh living in a fast-moving digital world, while also dealing with economic uncertainty and social pressure, many young people feel mentally exhausted and burnt out. In that environment, Buddhism is much slower, more inward-looking philosophy, uh which can feel especially comforting and appealing to young people. So, as a result, uh more young Koreans are trying out digital detox practices inspired by temple life even at home. Now, Buddhist meditation content on platforms like YouTube has also become hugely popular among young audiences. Right. So, that explains why many people see Buddhism as a place to recharge rather than a strict belief system. And this broader appeal is not just unique to Korea, with similar trends also emerging overseas. So, why is Buddhism attracting attention from young people then outside of Korea as well?
I think a lot of people are experiencing Buddhism in a more superficial or softer way, and I think it goes with what Kevin just mentioned. You know, it's not necessarily a situation where faith really defines the way that you have to engage with that culture, or at least that is the case in most Western countries, where as we mentioned before, Buddhism becomes an aesthetic, a way of living, and almost a philosophy. And well, I mean, I have been living in Spain for like, I mean, 20 years, and it was so common to find, for example, Buddha statues in people's homes, in restaurants, in clubs. Sometimes I would wonder why. And I think it's mostly because of the inspiration of the message behind it. So, I think we are seeing this in Korea, too, where Korean content is really, you know, succeeding abroad in different forms and ways. So, for example, among K-dramas, we have Goblin. And among movies, we have Exhuma, which is Pamyo in Korean. And all of these different forms of content are showing, you know, how Koreans experience culturally Buddhism, which as India mentioned today on the interview, it can be quite different from other countries. And it's also quite interesting to see how different people make it their own interpretation about what Buddhism really is. And of course, I think there's also a need for diving deeper and understanding what it really is, rather than just getting a hold on to the aesthetic or the message behind it in a superficial level. But, I think it's also important to mention how that is affecting pop culture overall, and how people are a little less pressured to just, you know, take the first step and try to learn more, which is not really the case with a lot of a lot of other religions, where you really have to dive deep into it in order to get to know a little bit more. I think it's a it's good way to to people, young people interested in at least like more open to learning about the religion because we see a lot of young people turning away from religion now. >> Right.
So, that connection to both mindfulness and Korean tradition seems to be drawing in more global followers. And to keep up with this growing interest, Buddhism in Korea is evolving in some unexpected ways. So, how is Buddhism becoming more I guess relatable to young people?
Buddhism traditionally had an old-fashioned and quiet image here in Korea, but recently it's been reinventing itself to appeal to younger generations. One striking example is I Am Solo Temple Edition, a large-scale group matchmaking event organized by the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. Almost like a reality dating show on TV that we see it very often in Korea. So far, more than 11,000 people have applied in total. And the most recent event reportedly had a 35-to-1 competition rate, which is pretty tough. >> And there are also a lot of successful people that are actually They actually met people and Oh, yeah. They have actually, yeah, and became couples. And another growing trend among young people is the so-called short-term monastic experience where participants can live like Buddhist monks for anywhere from a few days to an entire month. And many applicants are university students looking to step away from the pressures of hyper-competitive society and just to clear their minds. So, for many MZers, Buddhism today isn't just about religion. It's becoming a form of healing, reflection, and emotional get from stress. And I personally think as well, I grew up going to church thanks to my parents, but I think in terms of religion, it's a choice. It should never be forced upon on someone. But I think with Buddhism, why it's more appealing to the younger people is because it's a bit more peaceful in the sense that if you go to a temple, it's usually in the mountains. You're in nature. It's very quiet. And it's uh smaller groups compared to I guess churches where you have so many people just one kind of big building and you have the priest preaching for a couple of hours. And [laughter] you have to sing as well and you have to pray out loud. It's better to pray out loud apparently. And even in cathedrals it's goes much bigger. So I think if you go to temples it's it's more peaceful, you're in nature, and you have more like time for yourself and you really have to dig deep to the inner self and to kind of listen to how you actually feel at that moment. So I guess it's more appealing to the young people because like if we've been talking about today, we live in such a hyper-competitive society where many young people are stressed out from the everyday life of studying and competing against each other. So by going to these temples it's like digital detox pretty much. You leave you leave your phone behind. You dress as a monk, you eat as a monk, and like you might think it's boring but it's actually not because you actually get so much from just doing nothing. And that's sometimes what we need to meditate. You ask like young people, do you meditate? I don't think many people say yes. They're like, how do you meditate? You don't have to do anything, but that's so hard for us to do right now cuz we're always fixed to our phones. We're filled with so much information and media, social media, things like that. So I think I would definitely want to experience temple stay as well because sometimes I feel burnt out and I don't know what to do. And like I think meeting people would be the answer but it's actually not. You actually get more stressed by meeting people, listening to them, talking to them. So sometimes just not doing anything, being with yourself, just by yourself with a monk. Yeah, fully reaching from within. Yeah, exactly. And monks, what they do is they teach about life, you know, the the deepness of life, you know. You don't have to do much. Let go. I think that's the most important part of being I guess part of that being a the Buddhist part of that religion. It's very different to other religions. So, I think yeah, like talking about, you know, Buddhism today it really kind of gave me new insights on this religion and I really want to have a new experience on this as well. I can actually relate to that for because for the longest time I think going experiencing temple stay has been on my bucket list and it's funny cuz I actually identify as a Christian, but still like all the things you mentioned I feel like it would be such a healing experience and be nice.
So, from temple blind dates to short-term monastic programs, tradition is taking on a fresh new form and Buddhist organizations are even actually embracing cutting-edge technology now. So, how is technology helping making Buddhism even more accessible, Fabio?
Well, you think about Buddhism and it sounds quite traditional, right? >> Right. >> But then cutting-edge technology >> How does that play in with this? Yeah. >> nowadays. So, we see for example last April they launched AI Chatbot, which is the first monk chatbot. Mhm. So, quite interesting. It kind of functions like a chatting system uh function by AI that is based on the sermons and teachings of the venerable Chatbot, which is the president of the Korean Association of Buddhist Studies. So, this chatbot responds to you and your own personal concerns as if it was an actual monk. Wow. >> quite interesting and then furthermore last week we had the lantern parade or the lantern festival and this was led by venerable Hyun, a Korean the the Korean first Android or robot monk. And this was developed by Dongguk University. So, I have a friend at Dongguk University who is also part of the team of ambassadors and when they were doing the parade they were quite shocked to see the robots in front of them, but apparently it was a very, you know, fun and light-hearted way of expressing such a traditional value and traditional weight, but in a more softer and modern perspective. >> And this went viral all over social It was like all over my social media feed last week. >> even have the outfits on. Look at that. So, yeah, it's definitely very fun to see how uh a religion can be so open to exploring itself and doing so uh with the way that we communicate with each other nowadays. So, as Keun mentioned, you know, Buddhism has this way of reaching from within, which is quite different from our very fast-paced lifestyle that we have nowadays. And so, technology in theory doesn't really match that. However, when you get those both implemented, it really tells a lot about how flexibility inside of your heart really makes out for very nice moments and and great opportunities. And I think this is a great opportunity for Buddhism to reach the heart of people all around the world. >> For sure.
So, from glowing lanterns lining the streets to packed temples across the country, Buddha's birthday transforms the atmosphere of Korea each year. The holiday blends spirituality, tradition, and culture in a way that even non-Buddhists can appreciate. And for many visitors, it becomes one of the most memorable times to experience Korea. And that brings us to the end of today's episode of News Generation. We're News Generation will be back on Tuesday following the Buddha's birthday substitute [music] holiday at 10:30 a.m. Korea time with more stories and discussions. A big thanks to Keun. >> It's always a pleasure. And also Famio. Thank [music] you so much. And to our viewers, thank you so much for watching. Hopefully, all those lanterns will finally guide you to some enlightenment [music] this weekend. We are News Generation.