Mindfulness meets the poetic: building a Korean healing framework through biblio/poetry therapy

This paper presents a healing model that integrates mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) with biblio/poetry therapy, developed in response to Korea’s distinctive sociocultural and historical context. Addressing limitations of first-generation MBIs, particularly their insufficient engagement with the ontological and epistemological dimensions of meditation, the model draws on the aesthetic and philosophical foundations of traditional Seon (Zen) poetry. Meditative practices are paired with selected poems to create a dynamic rhythm between silence and expression, embodied perception and reflective articulation. The model was implemented over five years (2021–2025) in a university setting through diverse educational formats involving approximately 400 participants. Evaluation employed a mixed-methods approach combining surveys and qualitative reflections. Results indicated increased awareness across bodily, mental, and everyday life domains, with particularly strong gains in embodied awareness, alongside enhanced self-awareness, self-compassion, empathy, and communal connection. These findings suggest that integrating MBIs with poetry-based reflective practices offers a culturally resonant and pedagogically sustainable framework for fostering lasting personal and interpersonal growth.