As September draws to a close, a sound bath featuring the resonant tones of traditional Korean bangjja yugi will take place in Anguk, Seoul.
The session is part of the World Wellness Tourism Fair in Seoul 2026. Hosted by World Biz & Sports World, the two-day event runs from Sept. 28 to 29. In its fifth edition, this year’s fair is themed “Wellness & Local” and will offer wellness programs—including meditation, yoga, tea, incense and sound baths—rooted in Seoul’s hanok homes and local cultural resources. Wolyo Shinmun reported that the opening ceremony will begin at 1:30 p.m. on the first day at the International Conference Room at Bankers Hall in Jung-gu, followed by participatory programs at locations including Bukchon Hanok Village and Eunpyeong Hanok Village. Organizers said they aim to present a new tourism model by bringing together Seoul’s traditional culture and wellness tourism.
Bangjja yugi sound bath: The long afterglow of a hammered bowl
Bangjja yugi, made by countless hammer blows
Bangjja yugi is made by heating an alloy of melted copper and tin over a fire, then repeatedly hammering it into shape. Unlike vessels cast by pouring molten metal into a mold, bangjja yugi is finished through layer upon layer of hammering. As a result, its sound does not fade quickly once struck but lingers in the air. Its qualities closely resemble those of traditionally made singing bowls, and bangjja yugi has increasingly been used in place of Nepalese singing bowls.
When sound guides meditation
A sound bath is, quite literally, a meditation that immerses the body in sound. Unlike guided meditation, which directs attention to the breath or a mantra, the resonance of the instruments themselves brings the mind back to the present moment. Singing bowls and gongs have traditionally filled that role overseas; in this session, bangjja yugi will take their place. Organizers describe the experience as a premium sound-healing session designed to awaken the senses of a tired body and mind through bangjja yugi’s clear, deep resonance.
An evening in Anguk: How to slow down for an hour
Led by instructor Park Seol-ah, who has planned a range of performances, including immersive sound meditation concerts, the bangjja yugi sound bath will take place from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 28, on the third floor of Amor Napoli in Anguk. It will be an hour that begins as the sun starts to set in a neighborhood alongside the hanok alleys of Bukchon.
Monday evening is the busiest day of the week for many, with the workweek just beginning. Turning aside briefly on the way home and letting yourself listen to a single sound may change the texture of the rest of the week, even if only slightly.
Following a sound to the very end
Continuing to meditate has taught me one thing: Stillness is less a state without sound than an attitude toward sound. When you listen until a single bangjja yugi resonance has completely disappeared, the thoughts in your head quiet along with the fading sound. Just as a bowl made through countless hammer blows gives those blows back as a clear tone, perhaps the weight accumulated in our bodies over the course of a day can also be released.
It is an evening when the sound of tradition becomes the most modern form of rest. This Monday, consider giving yourself an hour.
Event information
Date and time: Monday, Sept. 28, 2026, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Location: Third floor of Amor Napoli in Anguk
Parking: Paid parking is available at the Hyundai Gyedong office building. According to the organizers, the fee is 9,000 won for two hours.