"We expect this year's Seoul International Buddhism Expo to go beyond being a 'hot' expo to become a 'so hot' one," said Venerable Seongwon, head of the cultural affairs department of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, at a press conference held Wednesday at the Korean Buddhist History and Culture Memorial Hall in Jongno-gu, Seoul, for the "2026 Seoul International Buddhism Expo and International Seon Meditation Conference." "Public interest in Buddhist culture has expanded significantly over the past few years," he added.
The 2026 Seoul International Buddhism Expo, hosted by the Jogye Order, Korea's largest Buddhist sect, will be held from April 2 to 5 at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Now in its 14th year, the expo focuses on conveying the core Buddhist concept of "Gong (Emptiness)" through experiential programs. Visitors will have the opportunity to sit face-to-face with monks for dialogues on the philosophy of Emptiness. At the Iljumun gate of Bongeunsa Temple, a "Heart Sutra Gong Party" will feature reinterpretations of the philosophy of the Heart Sutra — one of Buddhism's most representative scriptures — through modern music genres such as hip-hop and EDM.
"We will make every effort to help the public experience and participate in Buddhist philosophy more easily," Venerable Seongwon said. "We will spare no attention and support to ensure that traditional culture gains industrial competitiveness and expands into a global expo."
Venerable Wonheo, president of the Buddhist Newspaper, which organizes the expo, said, "This expo was prepared with the goal of going beyond a humble exhibition to become an open playground where Buddhism engages with the world." He added, "We will reinterpret Buddhism through modern language and content while maintaining the depth of tradition, creating points of contact with the younger generation." Last year, millennials and Gen Z accounted for 77% of expo visitors. The Jogye Order projects 250,000 visitors this year, a 25% increase from last year.
The Jogye Order will also hold the "2026 International Seon Meditation Conference" and "Seon Meditation Festival" from April 3 to 5 at Bongeunsa Temple and Bongeun Cultural Center in Gangnam-gu. This year's theme is "Seon Meditation in the Age of Artificial Intelligence." A "Mind Prescription" program will use AI analysis to diagnose participants' concerns and mental states and suggest personalized Seon meditation methods. Venerable Ilgam, secretary-general of the Future Headquarters of the Jogye Order, stressed, "The fact that meditation has become a global trend recently also means that life has become that much harder. Helping people with their problems and relieving their suffering is the fundamental duty of Buddhism."