[Post-Religious Era]⑤ "True Fun and Comfort"... Hongdae's 'Sanctuary of Pleasure' Becomes a Sacred Place

Interview with Junhan Sunim of JustBe Seon Center
Established near Hongdae in 2022
A space for fun and comfort, stripped of religious overtones
Visited by over 6,000 people from Korea and abroad in a year
"The beginning of happiness is knowing yourself"

Editor's NoteA significant decline in the number of prospective clergy and an aging trend are becoming prominent across most religions. While this is a natural consequence of population decline, the influence of contemporary values that prioritize material wealth is also cited as a major reason. How does the religious community perceive and respond to these phenomena? Furthermore, what role does religion play in our society today, and what kind of impact does it have? We take a closer look at the inner workings of Catholicism, Buddhism, and Protestantism.

Near Hongdae, a neighborhood known for its youthful energy, there is a meditation guesthouse called "JustBe." This six-story Seon Center, equipped with a Dharma hall and accommodations, opened in October 2022. Unlike traditional Seon Centers, it serves as a "global practice playground" where young people from diverse backgrounds gather to enjoy vegetarian food, meditation, and conversation. The person behind this initiative is Junhan Sunim, who returned from the United States in 2006 to become a monk. After completing a 1,000-day prayer retreat, he felt compelled to work with young people and left the mountains to return to the city. Junhan Sunim emphasized, "All illnesses originate from the mind. Our original mind is as vast as the sky, as steadfast as the earth, and as unimpeded as the wind," adding, "I wanted to guide young people to the gateway of such realization." He intentionally minimized religious elements, creating a space filled with fun and comfort, and this approach resonated with young people. Over the past year, more than 6,000 people have visited JustBe. Junhan Sunim stresses that this is not a missionary strategy, but the very purpose itself. Currently, four monks and ten young people are running this place, aiming to create a space "where anyone can find strength for life." We asked Junhan Sunim about the significance of JustBe and its impact on our society.

At Just Be Hongdae Seon Center, Junhan Sunim (the man wearing glasses in the center), staff, and visitors are having a birthday party.
Photo by Just Be Hongdae Seon Center

- It is said that you now spend a lot of time in the mountains. How are you doing these days?

▲After spending 15 years deep in the mountains, where the elements-earth, water, fire, and wind-remain pure, I moved to the heart of the city two years ago and found my physical balance greatly disrupted. These days, I spend about five days a week in the mountains. I live freely, moving between the deep mountains and the city without being bound by anything.

- It has been over two years since you established an urban meditation space in Hongdae. Did you have a specific intention, and is it being realized?

▲My intention was simple: to create a space where young people could gather, lay out the groundwork, and support them from behind. I did not have a detailed plan or expectations for how things would unfold. Things happened naturally, and dynamic events took place. As dancers, models, musicians, and other young people gathered, it became a venue for communication between artists from different genres and foreigners. Few visitors identify as Buddhist. Many have no religion, and quite a few belong to other faiths. It seems that young people these days are not particularly fond of religion. I wanted to create a space that breaks the mold of religion, where lonely and struggling young people could find strength. I simply thought that the act of meeting itself was meaningful, and unexpectedly, many young people showed interest. Through Instagram, our main communication channel, many people interested in meditation, yoga, tea ceremonies, vegetarianism, and the environment have become followers. I am proud that JustBe is gradually establishing itself as a fun place to meet friends.

- Is there a particular aspect you focus on?

▲The most important thing is myself. JustBe is also a place I created for my own practice. By acknowledging my own shortcomings, I strive to live each day brightly and positively, without being swept away by life. Personally, I prefer being in the mountains-it is like paradise (laughs). However, I came to the city on purpose to face challenges, and indeed, I encounter many issues. True practice, I realized, happens in the marketplace. From legal and financial issues to harmony among the center's members, I confront myself through these challenges and work on seeing myself clearly. The core of Buddhism is to turn our attention inward, away from external pursuits like money, fame, and power. There is a saying, "Return the light and reflect inward." Practice means constantly reflecting on oneself and striving to improve areas of deficiency.

- What kind of people usually visit? Are there more foreign visitors?

▲During travel seasons, there are more foreigners, while in the off-season, more Korean youth visit. For now, Korean youth make up the majority, but I expect the number of foreigners to increase in the future. Google has recognized us as a nonprofit organization making a positive impact and has promised support. JustBe has also been registered on "HappyCow," an app that introduces vegan restaurants worldwide. Recently, the head of HappyCow visited Korea for an event hosted by the Korea Tourism Organization and showed great interest.

- Over the past year since opening, many young people must have come and gone. Are there any particularly memorable cases?

▲Before JustBe, this place was Kimchi Guesthouse-a guesthouse known for its wild parties, a so-called "sanctuary of pleasure" in Hongdae. Here, I met a 21-year-old from Chile who came to Korea to pursue music. He cleaned the guesthouse in exchange for free lodging, and he surprised me in many ways. He had no tattoos, and when I asked why, he said it was because he wanted to be able to donate blood. Despite being a musician, he had never been to a club. Moved by his sincerity, I told him I wanted to be his first fan and asked him to become a founding member of JustBe. We have now lived together for over two years. I still vividly remember how happy he was, saying, "I used to be alone, but now I have a family." Among our guests was also a 17-year-old girl from the United States. She had dropped out of middle school and came to Korea on a spiritual journey in search of enlightenment, eventually becoming a fellow practitioner. I am pleased to see people of different skin colors and nationalities coming together to live, practice, laugh, and share their hearts-a true "global practice playground."

- Establishing a Seon Center in Hongdae itself draws a lot of attention. Do you feel any pressure or caution?

▲Honestly, yes. That is why, when I first came to Hongdae, I did not make it public for a year and three months. I believed that young people should build this space naturally from the ground up with pure intentions, and that it should not be publicized in the media. I also worried that if established religious figures came after reading about us, the youth-centered atmosphere would be disrupted. I think religious people should support from the side or behind, not stand out in front. Young people today are very perceptive, so I say this with caution, but it seems they are skeptical of established organizations. If purity is not guaranteed, they simply leave. That said, our situation was never easy. The monthly rent alone is 15 million won. Fortunately, after being featured in the media, we received help from many people. People from all over the world have sent coffee, tea, bread, and rice. Such gestures are passed on to the young people as gratitude, creating a virtuous cycle where they feel inspired to help others in turn.

- Running a Seon Center of this scale cannot be easy. Do you ever experience burnout? How do you recover when you feel exhausted or overwhelmed?

▲Monks experience burnout too. When that happens, I send myself to the mountains to spend time alone. The same goes for the young people I work with. Spending a long time with people can be draining, so I encourage them to spend three days or even a week in scenic national parks. My hope is that JustBe becomes not just a place for volunteering, but a home base for life. Instead of burning out from competition and becoming mentally exhausted, I want to create a system where people can live healthily and happily. The goal is to work together for nine months a year and spend the remaining three months individually. It is about growing together and living as the protagonists of our own lives.

- What do you think is the role of religion?

▲I hope to break down the framework of religion. Expanding religious influence should not be the goal. I believe it is important for religious people to interact, unite, and become one. In a society divided by wealth and poverty, or by political factions, if religious people can demonstrate understanding and acceptance, it could provide a warm sense of direction for our generation. These days, criticism of religion as a social evil seems to be growing, but I believe our role can become greater when we are able to break down the walls and barriers of religion.

- We hear that you plan to open additional JustBe centers both domestically and internationally. What is your vision?

▲It seems that we are the first in the world to create an urban meditation guesthouse. We are currently in discussions with people in Busan, Jeonju, Mungyeong, as well as New York, Singapore, and Barcelona, who want to share human resources and the brand. What matters most is that the owners of JustBe are "us." I hope young people will take the lead and spread positive influence widely. As for myself and the other monks, we are just here to support from the side or behind.

- Please share a message for young people searching for their own paths.

▲All suffering and anxiety stem from not trusting oneself. This is the saddest thing. If you cannot trust yourself, how can you ask anyone else to trust you? Yet people know so little about themselves. They live without realizing the infinite power, wisdom, and potential they possess. Discovering that is what it means to find oneself. Any religion or method is fine-just have the courage to seek your path. I, too, am someone who walks the path every day. Rather than having a destination, the act of walking itself is the goal. The very place where we stand now is the destination of our lives. I hope everyone sets out on a journey to find companions to walk with. First, step out of your room. If you feel lost, you are welcome to come to JustBe and join us. We are open 24 hours a day (laughs).