How young people meet in South Korea and why matchmaking is still popular there

It would seem how far away we are from Asian culture. And yet, not absolutely. We learn about many traditions of the East partly thanks to Korean pop culture, which gave our audience hundreds of songs and dramas. In contact with the work of Koreans, a person of our link rarely remains indifferent - a very great contrast, especially in the field of personal relationships. Now imagine that this is one of the few developed cultures that actively protects the world. matchmaking.

One of the main achievements of modernity is considered complete freedom in choosing a partner and expressing feelings. But not in South Korea! Young people from this corner of the earth not only do not use dating sites and apps, but also do not see any sense in it. And why, if you can use the services of the real matchmakersLike ancient times?

Why matchmaking is popular in Korea nowadays

Unsplash South Korea is called one of the most romantic countries in the world. Probably because they have a lot of traditions and subtleties associated with relationships. They love symbolism and order in everything, even in love affairs. They are very serious about who to spend your life with or at least part of it. Here are the most interesting Facts about the personal lives of Koreans.

Prohibition of relationships until the age of majority (20 years) It's not a strict rule, but it's a rule. Koreans enter the independent age only at 20 years, and enter the university from 19. Until the moment of admission, it is believed that a diligent student simply cannot have time for any relationship. His head should be occupied with teaching materials, not lovers. Therefore, there can be no talk of dating or serious relationships unless it happens in secret from parents. They certainly won't approve!

But, probably, that is why the Koreans have a nice tradition in the form of a symbolic gift during the prom. Lovers give each other the top buttons of their jackets as a promise to save their feelings after school. Agree, this is not at all like the experience of European peers who can start a serious relationship in high school.



Unsplash Matchmaking in our time Sometimes you don't even have to go to matchmaker It is enough to rely on the help of loyal friends. The shyness of Koreans plays a huge role here. In some Asian cultures (including Japanese) it is considered the height of indecency to disturb another person. So you can’t just talk to a stranger, it’s just uncultured. And even innocent questions about the weather or well-being can be misinterpreted. It’s quite difficult to meet someone on the street, in a cafe or library, given this factor.

To solve this problem, the Koreans resort to the so-called sogethin. Literally it is translated as a meeting-performance, during which people get acquainted with the romantic overtones. Nana sogechin Try to invite an equal number of girls and guys. It is a kind of friendly gathering, during which young people look at each other. For example, one of the students will offer to meet two unfamiliar companies. Sogehin is usually called by friends and acquaintances, not knowing who else will be there. The lucky ones quickly find a mate.



Who would have thought that marriage is still popular today? But this way of dating perfectly describes the Koreans. The problem isn’t just that they can’t get to know someone completely unfamiliar. But also in the organization of such gatherings. It turns out that group (That’s what they call it) they were invited! And this takes away responsibility and gives the illusion of ease. But what if all the years go by and the partner is not found?

How to Get Married in South Korea matchmaker They apply on two occasions. In the first situation, the problem is that the person is over 30 or 40, and the family is not yet. This usually applies to women who are not yet married. Due to a busy work schedule or simply failures on the love front, they themselves can turn to the services of a matchmaker.



In the second case, which is often described in romantic Korean dramas, the matchmaker is hired by the parents themselves. At the same time, this arrangement is possible both for parents on the part of the future bride, and for parents of the future groom. The process of meeting and dating in matchmaking is called matsoon. And if you think that this is a relic of the past - how not! For young people, matchmaking is still the best option.

Why Koreans don’t kiss in public, not just Koreans. This is a very individual question for each couple, both in the heart of Europe and beyond. But still, for Koreans, kissing and even touching their legal soul mate can be considered something vulgar. The best they can do is hold hands.

But they have a lot of other cute feelings for each other. To demonstrate to others their love affairKorean couples often wear paired clothes. Couple T-shirts, special images selected for each other, or paired accessories. But not passionate kisses! Koreans are very respectful of their reputation, it is extremely important for them to know that others will not think badly of them.



Unsplash How to Celebrate Anniversaries in South Korea celebration A relationship lasting a year, two, five or ten years is common. But the Korean tradition is not the same as ours. For example, they mark not years, but days. Do you know how many days a couple has to meet to make their relationship official? 100 days! It turns out that a little more than three months. And to start planning a family and thinking about marriage, a couple must cross the threshold of 1000 days.

That is why on the hundredth or thousandth day since the beginning of the relationship, couples in love arrange a celebration. Traditional is a trip to Seoul castle. There, couples leave locks of love, just like in Paris, and on many other bridges around the world.



Unsplash doesn’t have to be a trip. It can be a bouquet of hundreds of roses or a huge heart lined with flower petals. Koreans like to show attention to their soul mate, while maintaining trembling feelings for many, many years.

Other features of romantic relations in Korea In Korea, love the day of lovers. February 14. But attention during the holiday, mainly get men. Girls are free to confess their feelings in a very delicate way. They prepare chocolates and give them to their chosen one. In turn, the men wait for March 14, which is called White day.



On White Day, men try to pick up something white. It can be either a chocolate bar or a teddy bear or even underwear. By the way, it is customary to give underwear exclusively on this day, since at other times (especially at the early stage of relations) it can be considered a moviton.

A separate part of Korean life is familiarity. This is not a casual meeting over a cup of tea or a family feast. Everything goes in a formal manner, like a job interview. That is why the chosen ones do their best to please the parents of their half. If this fails, the relationship may be threatened.



How unusual and amazing can other cultures be, right? But if you look at the life of South Koreans, such traditions have their own logic. Of course, these days there are many young couples who meet and even give birth to children before marriage. In the old days it was strictly forbidden. What do you think about marriage in South Korea today?