Seoul: The 2026 Han River Nap Competition was held last Saturday afternoon at Yeouido Park in Seoul, South Korea. This was the third year the event was organized by the Seoul local government to raise awareness of the importance of rest in a society characterized by hard work and sleep deprivation. It is also part of the "Reading at Hangang Park" project, inspired by the image of people often dozing off while reading by the river.

According to Thai News Agency, this year, 170 contestants were selected from applications detailing their experiences with fatigue. The rules stipulated that contestants must achieve the deepest, longest, and most peaceful sleep possible, with staff monitoring their heart rates to identify those with the deepest and most stable sleep. The team also used feathers to gently nudge the contestants or played mosquito sounds in their ears to test if they were truly asleep or just pretending. Anyone who woke up, got up, used their phone, or made noise was disqualified. Contestants often wore creative pajamas, such as koala mascot costumes or dressed as sleeping princesses and princes.

The winner of this year's nap contest was an 80-year-old man. He said napping was easy for him because he practically sleeps all day at home anyway. The runner-up was a 37-year-old office worker who stated he was exhausted from working night shifts and driving regularly. This activity reflects South Korean culture, where people work hard and get very little rest, ranking among the highest in the world.