Korea to Spotlight Mental Well-Being With First Celebration of UN Meditation Day (Image courtesy of GoodFon/CCL)
SEOUL, Dec. 16 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea will host its first official observance of the United Nations’ World Meditation Day on Dec. 21, marking the country’s entry into a global initiative aimed at promoting mental well-being through contemplative practice.
The Korean preparatory committee for the event said Monday that a commemorative ceremony and the launch of the UN World Meditation Day Korea Committee will take place at Bongeunsa Temple’s cultural hall in Seoul’s Gangnam district.
The UN General Assembly unanimously adopted the resolution establishing World Meditation Day in December 2024, following a proposal by Jinwoo, president of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, during a visit to the United States last year.
The newly formed Korean committee brings together leaders from multiple faith traditions, including Jinwoo; Anglican Bishop Yoon Jong-mo; Ven. Beopryun, a leading Buddhist teacher; and Lee Kyung-yeol of Won Buddhism, alongside medical and wellness experts specializing in meditation.
Ven. Geumgang, vice chair of the committee, said modern society’s pursuit of material satisfaction has deepened emotional strain and mental fatigue, leaving many in states of lethargy or distress. Meditation, he said, offers a way to quiet the mind, reduce reactive emotions and cultivate lasting inner calm.
The committee plans to hold an annual observance of World Meditation Day and host semiannual forums to expand a national meditation network and support broader public engagement.
This year’s inaugural event will include a collective “peace of mind” meditation session and a conference examining global meditation trends and the challenges facing the practice in Korea.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
