2026 International Meditation Competition

The International Seon Meditation Conference and Seon Meditation Festival, hosted by the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, are held to promote the mental health of the public. The event began in 2024 and is now in its third year. This year, under the theme “[Zen Meditation in the Age of AI],” the event explores ways in which Zen meditation can benefit the public’s mental health and, through the accompanying Zen Meditation Festival, offers the public opportunities to directly experience Zen meditation in various fields.

- Main Programs: Opening Ceremony / Seon Meditation Forum / International Conference / Closing Ceremony / 2026 Seon Meditation Festival 1. Opening Ceremony: Marking the start of the 2026 Seon Meditation Project 2. Seon Meditation Forum: Theme (In the Age of AI, Why Seon Meditation?) 3. International Conference: November 12, 2026; Theme: “Seon Meditation in the Age of AI” 4. Closing Ceremony: November 12, 2026 5. 2026 Seon Meditation Festival: - South Korea’s largest meditation festival, where participants can experience various forms of meditation firsthand, including walking meditation, eating meditation, sound meditation, and death meditation - A meditation festival held in collaboration with citizens at meditation centers and major temples across nine regions nationwide; last year, approximately 130,000 people participated, and a variety of programs—ranging from traditional to modern meditation—were offered to support the mental health of the entire nation