From August 7 to 10, the Buddhist Newspaper and Busan Buddhist Broadcasting System (BBS) held the 2025 Busan International Buddhist Expo at Hall 1 of the BEXCO Exhibition Center in Busan. The expo was praised for creating a festive atmosphere that transcended generations and religions through its diverse content. 

The event featured 372 booths operated by 249 companies involved in Buddhist cultural projects, showcasing a wide range of products and exhibitions that help visitors rediscover the value of traditional Korean Seon culture and the essence of Buddhism.  

Many visitors were attracted to products and content reflecting this year's notable lifestyle trend, "Buddhism-core." Stylish household goods, fashion items, and interior accessories presented at the expo proved appealing to the MZ generation, establishing Buddhism as a cultural trend that transcends religious boundaries. 

The “Seon Meditation Zone,” which offered Buddhist wellness programs centered on meditation free of charge, also caught the attention of many visitors. The “Seon Meditation Zone” provided the MZ generation interested in spiritual culture with opportunities to experience meditation firsthand. These included stress tests and counseling provided by the Mita Seon Center, “Singing Bowl (Buddha Bowl) Experiences” by Hongbeop-sa Temple and Singing Bowl Healing Sounds, and “Environmentally Friendly Product DIY” by Jungto Dharma School. 

 

At the "Temple Food Exhibition," visitors experienced healing through food. Cooking classes and programs showcasing traditional temple cuisine demonstrated its health benefits and depth, and the appeal of vegan dishes, receiving positive feedback from visitors.

Additionally, there were unique stage programs including “Dhamma Talk,” the “108 Prostrations & Meditation Experience Program,” and “Sdam Sdam” a healing talk show featuring Buddhist monks. 

In post-event surveys, visitors responded positively. Comments included, “It was nice to come with my family,” “I'm not Buddhist, but I enjoyed learning about interesting aspects of the religion,” “I don't have many opportunities to learn about Buddhism, but thanks to the expo, I learned a lot,” and “I hope there will be more programs that appeal to people in their 20s.”