An Online Temple Where Visitors Cannot Chat
Thursday, November 5, 2026164 words3 minutes262 reads
A new website in South Korea invites people to slow down. Called Sansa, it is an online Buddhist temple created by Park Jin-won, a 26-year-old looking for a job. He used AI tools to help build it.
Visitors control small characters dressed as young monks. They can walk through the temple, sit on cushions, listen to chants or bow before a Buddha statue. They can also see others nearby. However, there is no chat box, so nobody can send messages or ask visitors to explain themselves.
Park says job applications left him tired and worried. He wanted the rest a real temple could offer, but travelling there required time and energy. An online version offered an easier way to take a break.
The site's popularity suggests that some people want company without pressure to talk. Still, a virtual visit is different from being in a real temple. A peaceful website cannot solve unemployment or personal stress, even if it offers a few quiet minutes.
