From temple stays to TV: The rise of Korea's 'hip Buddhism'
Buddhist monk Ven. Pomnyun and cast members appear in SBS’ variety show “Sunim and Sonim: Soul Trip in India,” which follows their journey of spiritual practice. Courtesy of SBS
Why ‘Sunim and Sonim: Soul Trip in India’ became Korea’s latest healing hit
In an age overflowing with dopamine-chasing content, travel reality shows have become a small pause for viewers worn down by busy routines. SBS’ new program “Sunim and Sonim: Soul Trip in India” takes that familiar format a step further, adding comfort and practical guidance from the widely respected Buddhist monk Ven. Pomnyun.
Premiered on May 19, the show follows Ven. Pomnyun and cast members Noh Hong-chul, Lee Sang-yun, Lee Joo-bin, Lee Ki-taek and Woochan as they travel to India in search of their “true self.”
But what seems to be a travel reality show soon takes a more serious turn, moving closer to a documentary and a form of spiritual practice. The celebrity cast members arrive with large suitcases, only to be told to leave most of their belongings behind and carry just one backpack, a gesture that also points to letting go of desire in Buddhist terms.
With only a single backpack, they set out across India not as ordinary tourists, but as people on a spiritual journey, including to parts of the country where hardship is most visible. The show becomes a journey between a monk and his guests as they try to move away from inner turmoil and closer to their “true self.”
At the center of the show is Ven. Pomnyun, one of Korea’s best-known Buddhist monks, widely recognized for his “Ven. Pomnyun’s Dharma Q&A talks,” in which he responds directly to people’s worries with practical advice. His words give the program its emotional spine.
When the cast members are visibly shaken after seeing children begging on the street, the Buddhist monk offers a perspective that unsettles easy sympathy.
“People do not become beggars simply because they are poor. They become beggars because people keep giving,” he says, encouraging the cast to think beyond initial pity.
In another moment, he tells them, “Loving yourself can also mean tormenting yourself,” adding that what matters is not trying too hard to become something. He also reminds them that names, jobs and social roles cannot reflect the real “self.”
The show’s strength lies in combining the vicarious pleasure of travel with the emotional relief of counseling. At a time when many people turn to artificial intelligence (AI) to share their worries and seek comfort, “Sunim and Sonim: Soul Trip in India” offers a notably human kind of consolation, imperfect, direct and rooted in conversation.
The response has been strong. The first episode ranked seventh overall on Netflix Korea’s Top 10 Series Today list and second among variety shows. The second episode rose to fourth overall and first among variety programs. The show also topped all entertainment programs in the key 20-49 viewership rating.
A poster for "Sunim and Sonim: Soul Trip in India" / Courtesy of SBS
Human comfort in the age of AI advice
The show appears to have tapped into what viewers were already looking for. Ven. Pomnyun’s YouTube channel, “Ven. Pomnyun’s Dharma Q&A talks,” has 1.62 million subscribers, and his presence has long proved popular across social media. His direct yet practical way of offering advice to people who share their worries has resonated with viewers across generations and genders. Short clips edited around the key points of his talks have also continued to circulate widely online.
“Sunim and Sonim: Soul Trip in India” builds on that familiar appeal by weaving the emotional draw of his question-and-answer sessions into the travel reality show.
It is also notable that the show has faced relatively little resistance despite placing religious material at its center. Religious content can often feel difficult to approach because it may be perceived as tied to a specific belief system or ideology. But the show lowers that barrier by presenting Buddhist teachings and philosophy not as sermons, but as a language of healing and empathy. Ven. Pomnyun’s advice, too, is less about religious doctrine than practical attitudes toward life and relationships.
The show also overlaps with the so-called “hip Buddhism” trend that has been spreading among younger Koreans. Many young people now see Buddhism less as a solemn, weighty religion than as a lifestyle centered on caring for the mind and living in a healthier way.
That shift has turned temple stays, visits to Buddhist temples, Buddhist-themed goods and YouTube content about spiritual practice into cultural experiences consumed by younger audiences. “Sunim and Sonim: Soul Trip in India” reaches viewers in a similar context. By putting travel, empathy and rest at the front of the show, it has succeeded in drawing attention from younger viewers.
The popularity of “Sunim and Sonim: Soul Trip in India” can be seen as a reflection of the times. In an era that places greater value on empathy, comfort and rest, the show offers another example of how healing entertainment is expanding.
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.