Over the past 1,000 days, 1.7 million visitors have come to the National Museum of Korea in Yongsan, Seoul, to engage in a practice known as “bul-meong.” While “bul-meong” usually describes the act of quietly staring at fireworks, in this setting, it refers to gazing at Buddha statues. The term combines the first syllable of “bulsang,” the Korean word for Buddha statue, with “meong,” meaning to stare blankly in Korean. This practice involves calmly observing a Buddha statue in the tranquil setting of an exhibition hall.
The museum’s “Room of Quiet Contemplation,” which showcases two National Treasure Pensive Bodhisattva statues from the Three Kingdoms period, celebrated its 1,000th day on Aug 8. Since opening in November 2021, this serene space has attracted approximately 1.76 million visitors as of Aug 15., averaging about 1,700 visitors per day. The room has become a popular spot for reflection and photography, consistently setting new attendance records for the museum.
During this exceptionally hot summer, other forms of “blank staring,” or “meong,” have also gained popularity. Many people have taken to watching water flow in rivers (“mul-meong”), waves crash on beaches (“pado-meong”), and waterfalls cascade (“pokpo-meong”). Social media is filled with stories and photos of people relaxing by rivers, beaches, and waterfalls, finding peace in these calming natural sights. It seems that the practice of blank staring becomes even more appealing as temperatures rise.
Park Chang-heum, CEO of the publishing company Trojan Horse, recently shared his experience on Facebook: “Off for a temple stay, disconnecting from the secular world for a bit~.” He spent time at Naksansa Temple in Yangyang, Gangwon-do, where he watched the sunrise, performed 108 bows, threaded prayer beads, and watched the waves. Temple stays often require participants to surrender their smartphones and disconnect from electronic devices for two nights and three days — a break from the constant connectivity of daily life. Park reflected, “While watching the waves, I released my distracting thoughts into the sea,” adding that it was a time to recharge for the challenges ahead.
On the afternoon of Aug 17., around 100 people gathered to enjoy the view of “Hongjecheon Artificial Waterfall” in Hongje-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, watching the waterfall cascade into Hongjecheon Stream. Shielded from the scorching sun by the overpass of the Naebu Expressway, the area was filled with visitors. The nearby “Cafe Pokpo” and “Arumin Library,” which offer views of the waterfall from their windows, were bustling, with seats hard to come by. These spots are perfect for enjoying a drink or reading while taking in the serene scenery.
The waterfall, a 26-meter-high and 60-meter-wide artificial waterfall, has become a notable tourist attraction in Seodaemun-gu. Many foreigners were spotted taking photos or videos with the waterfall as a backdrop on the outdoor terrace. Meilin Parker from California, U.S., said, “I saw a video titled ‘Unique Korean Way of Cooling Off’ on TikTok and added it to my travel plans,” noting its reputation as an oasis in Seoul. The diverse crowd included women wearing hijabs and people speaking various languages, including Chinese and Spanish.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government and Seodaemun-gu transformed part of a parking lot and warehouse into a café and bookstore, allowing people to enjoy the view. Although regulations initially prohibited operating a café or restaurant by a stream, a revision of the Food Sanitation Act made it possible. Despite its modest size, Hongjecheon Artificial Waterfall has become a global tourist spot thanks to its popularity on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, where videos have garnered over 100,000 views.
At 5 p.m. on Aug 20., the Room of Reflection at the National Museum of Korea was relatively quiet. The room offers “a time to think deeply while reflecting broadly,” as stated at the entrance. The museum collaborated with architects and media artists to create a space for the two 1,400-year-old Pensive Bodhisattva statues. While the room closes at 6 p.m. on weekdays, it stays open until 9 p.m. on Wednesday nights. A museum official noted, “5,000 to 6,000 people visit on weekends,” adding, “On Wednesday nights, you might get lucky and have 5-10 minutes alone with the statues.”
French cultural critic Guy Sorman once described these Pensive Bodhisattva statues as “Korea’s symbol, foreshadowing Rodin’s ‘The Thinker’ by about a thousand years.” These statues transcend religious boundaries, attracting a diverse array of visitors, including nuns. Reviews left by visitors reflect the statues’ profound impact: “I found solace in the gentle smile of the Pensive Bodhisattva that has endured 1,400 years,” “After a troubling experience, seeing the ‘two figures’ allowed me to forget for a moment,” and “Life is finite, but each person is a treasure.”
In an age where people are overwhelmed by a constant stream of information accessible at the touch of a smartphone, the sentiment “I am already doing nothing, but I want to do nothing more actively and intensely” resonates with many. These moments of quiet reflection have become a self-help strategy for healing a tired and weary mind. Whether through staring at Buddha statues, watching water flow, or gazing at waves and waterfalls, people are finding ways to clear their minds and refresh their spirits.
