Korean and Vietnamese youth had a meaningful time understanding each other's hearts and experiencing the value of peace through meditation.
The '2025 Korean-Vietnamese Global Meditation Camp', hosted by the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism's Woljeongsa Temple and the Munsu Youth Association, and sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, took place from November 3 to 8 for 4 nights and 6 days at Tam Chuc Pagoda in Ninh Binh Province, Vietnam, and the surrounding areas of Hanoi. All official schedules concluded on the 8th after finishing the Hanoi itinerary.
30 Korean and Vietnamese youth transcend borders through meditation
This camp included a total of 30 youth participants, with 15 from Korea and 15 from Vietnam. The event, centered around meditation, cultural exchange, and historical exploration, was a place for the youth of both countries to learn the values of inner reflection and mutual understanding.
On the first day of the camp, the 3rd, the Korean delegation met with Vietnamese youth to greet each other and officially began the schedule. The first program featured a special lecture by Monk Milyeom of Woljeongsa Temple titled 'Meditation and Happiness: The Meeting of Buddhist Practice and Neuroscience'. After the lecture, participants experienced relaxation and concentration through actual meditation practice, gaining an understanding of the connection between meditation and neuroscience.
Meditation experiences at Tam Chuc Pagoda and GoSinga
Participants experienced peace of mind through a meditation program at Tam Chuc Pagoda in Ninh Binh Province, Vietnam. Ninh Binh is famous for its beautiful natural scenery, including Tam Coc, known as the 'Halong Bay on Land', with its limestone karst topography and rice fields. It is home to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex, which holds both cultural and ecological value.
On the 4th, after exploring the Buddhist culture and meditation space of Tam Chuc Pagoda, participants visited the Vietnamese meditation organization 'GoSinga (Temple Stay)'. Through the program conducted at GoSinga, participants learned about Vietnam's meditation culture and experienced the differences and similarities between Korean and Vietnamese meditation.
In the afternoon, a workshop titled 'Meeting of Korean and Vietnamese Cultures' was held, allowing students from both countries to freely discuss their traditions, lifestyles, and religious views, fostering mutual understanding of each other's cultures. In the evening, a 'Loving-kindness Meditation' led by Monk Milyeom took place, where participants reflected on inner peace and compassion for others.
Reflecting on the meaning of peace through historical exploration in Hanoi
In the latter part of the camp, participants moved to Hanoi to explore historical and cultural sites. They visited Hoa Lo Prison, the Ho Chi Minh Museum, and the Temple of Literature, reflecting on Vietnam's journey of independence and modernization.
In particular, they shared similarities between Korea's history during the Japanese colonial period and Vietnam's independence movement, taking time to reflect on 'What is peace?'. The youth of both countries formed a deeper sense of empathy by sharing the common historical pain of colonial experiences.
Exchange with Hanoi National University and declaration of peace
Participants visited the College of Social Sciences and Humanities (USSH) at Hanoi National University to engage in an exchange with local students. At this gathering, participants shared their impressions and learnings from the camp and jointly presented a 'Declaration of Peace' that they had written in groups.
The declaration contained the message, "Meditation is the beginning of peace, and peace of mind leads to change in the world." Participants shared the realization that peace, which begins within the individual, can expand to relationships with others and ultimately to peace in the world.
"Connecting Beyond Borders with the Common Language of Meditation"
A representative from the Munsu Youth Association stated, "Although it was a short schedule, it was a precious time for participants to understand each other's cultures and experience the value of peace through meditation," adding, "I hope this experience serves as a stepping stone for future Korean-Vietnamese youth exchanges and the expansion of the East Asian peace network."
Representatives from the Munsu Youth Association and GoSinga remarked, "We are witnessing moments of genuine connection beyond borders and languages through the common language of meditation," stating, "The experience of youth understanding each other's cultures and directly feeling peace will become the foundation for future Korean-Vietnamese youth exchanges."
Continuing with the East Asian Youth Meditation Camp at Woljeongsa in December
As the camp concluded, participants promised to meet again at the '2025 East Asian Youth Meditation Camp' to be held at Woljeongsa Temple in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province, South Korea, in December.
The December camp will connect Asian youth from Korea, Vietnam, Japan, Thailand, and more through meditation and peace. As this Korean-Vietnamese camp has shown the new possibility of 'peace connected by the heart', the East Asian Youth Meditation Camp is expected to become a platform for an expanded peace network.
Woljeongsa has been continuously expanding its global meditation programs in celebration of the 20th anniversary of its monastic school. In July, it successfully conducted the 'Woljeongsa-Wooden Fish Global Meditation Program' in collaboration with the Wooden Fish Foundation, with over 70 global youth from 25 countries participating.
This Korean-Vietnamese Global Meditation Camp has become an opportunity for Woljeongsa and the Munsu Youth Association to establish themselves as a center for youth exchange in the Asian region and to spread the message of peace through meditation.
Key keywords: Korean-Vietnamese Meditation Camp, Woljeongsa, Munsu Youth Association, Vietnamese Meditation, Tam Chuc Pagoda, GoSinga, Youth Exchange, Declaration of Peace, East Asian Youth Camp, Hanoi Historical Exploration, Loving-kindness Meditation, Global Meditation, Korean-Vietnamese Cultural Exchange, Pyeongchang Woljeongsa Reattempt
