Seoul: A powerful aphorism from Ven. Pomnyun greets visitors at the entrance to the Youth Festa: “Happiness is not about pleasure; it is simply the absence of suffering.” Inside, the venue buzzes with a cheerful energy, the unexpected harmony of a serene stone Buddha statue and playful, colorful emojis.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the event’s core mission is to comfort young people and help them wake themselves up, as explained by the venerated monk in his opening speech. The vibrant scene marks the return of the event formerly known as the Youth Concert, a nationwide touring talk event for young people led by Ven. Pomnyun, resuming after a seven-year hiatus.
Organized by the Jungto Society, a Buddhist community founded by the monk, the event was originally conceived in 2011 as a response to a tragic string of student suicides, offering a space for solace and hope. Now reborn as the three-day Youth Festa, it aims to address the anxieties and struggles of a new generation of young Koreans.
Beyond the signature talk sessions with mentors, the event has expanded to encourage collective energy and positive action. Various hands-on activities and booths, including eco-friendly food zones and a zero-waste campaign, encourage participants to reflect on the environment and community. Park Su-jung, who leads the Jungto Society’s young members, emphasized the importance of creating a space where young people can open up and discuss their struggles.
According to Park, young members account for less than 10 percent of the total membership. She hoped this Youth Festa will be a stepping stone for reaching more young people who face challenges and struggles, yet still hold onto hopes and aspirations. The push to reach young people is partly a response to the declining numbers of those becoming Buddhist monks or nuns.
According to South Korea’s largest Buddhist sect, the Jogye Order, only 81 people received monastic ordination last year, a sharp drop from 226 in 2014. The decline means fewer monks equipped for missionary and pastoral roles, fueling a cycle of shrinking Buddhist membership and dwindling monastics.
The Jogye Order has labeled the trend as “a critical issue undermining the foundation of Korean Buddhism,” and has shifted its focus to younger generations, promoting what it calls “hip Buddhism” — a vision of the religion as youthful, dynamic, and culturally relevant. This trend is exemplified by NewJeansNim, a DJ who blends electronic dance music with Buddhist-inspired messages at popular events.
Ven. Pomnyun acknowledged the need for understanding young people’s concerns and approaching them from a helpful perspective. He viewed it as encouraging that young people relate to Buddhism more as a culture and appreciate its lack of rigid rules. Oceans and Fisheries Minister Chun Jae-soo also offered advice on finding peace of mind and achieving true “success” in life, emphasizing the importance of finding one’s own sense of achievement without comparing to others.