"Feathers, Mosquito Sounds... Who Can Sleep Best?" Han River Hosts Deep Sleep Contest

Seoul residents will compete in a "sleep contest" along the Han River.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government will host the "2026 Han River Sleep Contest" at 3 p.m. on May 2 at the Multipla Plaza in Yeouido Hangang Park.

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Now in its third year, the "Han River Sleep Contest" has established itself as one of Seoul’s unique cultural events, aimed at conveying the value of rest to citizens amid their busy daily lives.

Participants were recruited from April 16 to April 20, and a final group of 170 people was selected based on their application stories and other criteria.

Contestants will compete to achieve the "best sleep" in their own ways.

Cho, a nurse working in the intensive care unit, shared, "Because I always live on edge, sleep often takes a back seat. But 3 p.m., right after my shift, is my golden hour for deep rest. I have always helped others recover, so this time, I want to give myself the gift of rest."

Yoon and Shin, an engaged couple, wrote, "We are overwhelmed by a flood of information as we prepare for our wedding and do overtime work. Our wish is to escape digital devices and lie down side by side on a warm spring day, falling asleep together without any worries."

The contest format focuses not just on taking a nap, but on evaluating "sleep concentration"-the ability to maintain a deep sleep state despite various external stimuli.

On site, there will be two rounds of interruptions, such as being tickled with feathers and the sound of mosquitoes, and participants must overcome these disturbances and remain calm.

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The winners will be determined by sleep data. Final rankings will be decided based on a comprehensive evaluation of each participant’s sleep measurement records, including the duration of deep sleep and overall sleep quality scores.

Additionally, there will be a "Best Dresser" contest, where participants compete with their unique pajama styles. The winner will be selected by votes from visitors, adding extra excitement to the event.

Anyone visiting Yeouido Hangang Park on the day of the event can watch the contest. More details about the 2026 Han River Sleep Contest can be found on the "Reading Han River Park" website and Instagram page.

Park Jinyoung, Director of the Future Hangang Headquarters at Seoul Metropolitan Government, stated, "This contest was designed to turn 'rest' itself into a cultural content, offering citizens a new sense of leisure and fun. I hope it becomes a precious moment to set aside the weight of daily life and enjoy the refreshing breeze of the Han River."

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