Now marriage matchmaking and government-organised speed dating events in South Korea have taken an unusual turn as the country continues to battle extremely low fertility and marriage rates, but will these unusual ways to meet your partner help boost them? Rachel Lee reports from Soul that fairy tale weddings are expected in South Korea, but they don’t all begin with me. Cutes or dating apps: some couples are embracing new ways to meet. These newlyweds are impacting their new life and business together. Their story started when they
met through a marriage matching agency I signed up because I wanted to meet someone who also wanted to get married. Lots of people don’t want to these days. Working in construction, there weren’t that many chances to meet new people. It was time effective to have an expert help find a good partner. The pandemic made it difficult to meet people in person and caused a resurgence in marriage matchmaking. The industry has grown by 30 to 40%. Perceptions have changed in the past; young people thought these agencies were for those who had failed to get.
Married now, they’re seen as a way to find someone who matches their specific needs, but matchmaking isn’t always successful, and not everyone agrees with this method of finding a partner. Using a marriage matching agency isn’t always viewed very positively; it can seem like people are being judged by their profiles and are getting married without love. It felt a bit embarrassing to tell friends and family that I signed up with an agency despite the increased popularity of marriage matchmaking. South Korea has extremely low marriage and fertility.
rate they’ve been falling deadly for the past decade. In fact, the fertility rate here is the lowest in the world, and this is a huge challenge for the government, which is committed to tackling this issue. They too are playing matchmaker; they’re organising speed dating events, and marriage is the theme. They say they’re providing young singles with an opportunity to meet and mingle. Young people today lack opportunities to meet new people, so I really appreciate that the city is providing a venue for this, but critics say they should be tackling high living.
costs and supporting women returning to work after children; meanwhile, the government says these events work with two marriages and many more on the horizon as young people search for love; they’re also seeking stability and security, something the country needs too as it battles its demographic crisis. Rachel Lee, BBC News, soul.