Did Nothing but Won First Place... The Winner of the 'Mungttaerigi Competition' Is an Announcer

80 Teams Overcome 35:1 Competition Rate to Participate
Player Kwak Yoon-gi, Mimiminu, and 'Billy' Tsuki Also Participate
Winner Is a Freelance Announcer

No talking, no phone use, no dozing off for 90 minutes. The only allowed action is to remain in a daze.

The 'Hangang Staring Contest,' celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, was held on the afternoon of the 12th at the Jamsu Bridge in Banpo Hangang Park, Seoul.

On the afternoon of the 12th, participants were spacing out at the '2024 Hangang Spacing Out Contest' held at Jamsugyo Bridge in Banpo Hangang Park, Seoul.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

This year, 80 teams overcame a high competition rate of 35 to 1 to participate. The organizers reviewed stories from 2,787 applicant teams to select the participants. Contestants must not speak or act in any way for 90 minutes and must maintain a dazed state continuously. Naturally, dozing off or falling asleep is prohibited, as is checking phones, laughing, singing, dancing, or consuming any food other than the beverages provided by the organizers. Ten participants who receive the most audience votes are evaluated, and the winner is the one with the most stable heart rate graph.

On the afternoon of the 12th, short track speed skater Kwak Yoon-gi (far left) was spacing out with fellow athletes at the '2024 Hangang Spacing Out Contest' held at Jamsu Bridge in Banpo Hangang Park, Seoul.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Notable participants included short track speed skaters Kwak Yoon-gi, Park Jong-hyun, Seo Beom-seok, girl group Billi member Tsuki, and famous study YouTuber 'Mimiminu' (real name Kim Min-woo). The ages of participants ranged from elementary school students to people in their 60s. Their occupations were diverse, including students, psychiatrists, firefighters, and data linguists. Some appeared in security guard or chef uniforms to showcase their professions, while others wore hanbok, sauna suits, prisoner uniforms, or came in cosplay and with various props, displaying unique styles. Despite the curious gazes of numerous onlookers and the cameras of the press, participants maintained their dazed states without distraction.

Participants appearing at the '2024 Hangang Spacing Out Contest' in unique outfits.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

The contest began at 4:17 PM, and the first dropout appeared at 4:52 PM, just 35 minutes in. University student Hong Ji-woo (24), who withdrew, told Yonhap News, "I thought I would definitely win first place, but the sunlight was so strong that it was harder than I expected," expressing regret. Kwak Yoon-gi, who participated with his teammates wearing short track racing suits, took third place. Kwak said, "I have attempted the Olympics five times and have lived competing with others, but above all, I wanted to rest. I came because I thought I could fully rest during this time."

The winner of the day was freelance announcer Kwon So-ah. Kwon said, "I usually do a lot of image training when aiming for something, but I thought that would make my heart race, so I just spaced out as usual. My legs went numb, and I almost laughed at the host’s comments, but I think I held it in well."

This event was planned in 2014 by visual artist Woopsyang to convey the message that 'doing nothing is also a valuable act,' and it has continued for over 10 years.