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Rural Seoul retreat charges $450 for 24 hours of silence and total isolation from stress
Na South Korea, an unusual retreat has been attracting stressed workers and students: a voluntary “prison” where silence and introspection have become antidotes to the pressure of routine.
Voluntary detention becomes a refuge from exhaustion in South Korea
In the countryside north of Seoul, the retreat Prison Inside Me offers a radical alternative for those who suffer from chronic stress in South Korea. Since its inauguration in 2013, more than 2 people have agreed to be “imprisoned” for up to 48 hours in individual cells, giving up technology and human contact.
The cells are about 5 square meters in size, with no mirrors or distractions. Guests wear blue uniforms and are given only the basics: a yoga mat, tea set, pen, notebook and simple meals like sweet potatoes and banana smoothies, served through a slot in the door. Cell phones and watches are provided upon arrival.
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High workload motivates search for alternative prison
Founder Noh Ji-Hyang came up with the idea after watching her husband, a public prosecutor, work up to 100 hours a week. She realized that isolation could be the key to rest. South Korea, the professional and academic pace is exhausting. In 2017, the average annual workload was 2.024 hours, one of the highest among OECD countries.
This exhausting scenario has transformed the retreat into a refuge. The rule is simple: absolute silence and zero interaction. For many, it is the first time they have been able to stop and simply think. Visitors leave the place with a “certificate of parole” and, in most cases, a feeling of renewal.
Testimonies highlight benefits of isolation in South Korea
Park Hye-ri, a 28-year-old program manager, said she should have been working but chose to “lock herself up” to reflect: “I decided to pause and think about my life.” Other participants said it was only once inside the cell that they realized that their real prison was their life outside.
The creator of the project sums up the experience of many: “After the stay, they say that the real prison is the routine on the outside.” The phrase resonates among those who seek not only physical rest, but a rediscovery of their own balance amid the constant pressure of South Korea.
Price and demand for retreat increase
The cost for a 24-hour stay is approximately US$90, around R$450. The space continues to gain visibility and becoming a symbol of a growing social phenomenon: the desire to escape within one's own South Korea.
