At the 8th-century Donghwasa Temple on Mount Palgongsan in South Korea, Buddhist monks held a dating event for young men and women. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing BBC News.
Participants engage in a 30-hour retreat with activities aimed at breaking the ice and finding love. Host Yoo Cheol-ju said low birth rates are a national crisis and that Buddhists have always been the first to act when the country is in trouble.
In 2023, South Korea's total fertility rate dropped to a historic low of 0.72, well below the replacement rate of 2.1. Some blame soaring housing costs and lack of financial support for childcare, while others say women are prioritizing careers.
The government offers longer parental leave, cash bonuses for babies, and subsidized apartments for newlyweds. Local governments and civic groups organize state-backed matchmaking events like this one at Donghwasa Temple.
Kim Ah-kyung (Buddhist name Sunhyeji), 28, was selected from a pool of 1,600 applicants. She struggled to meet a suitable partner after leaving Seoul. Kwon Seung-oh (Buddhist name Enyo), 30, is put off by online dating and found blind dates set up by friends to be shallow.
Participants were selected through questionnaires and selfie videos assessing their seriousness about marriage and children. The event was open to everyone regardless of faith.