① The ‘Templestay for Blind Date’ Held at the Temple
A gathering for young men and women at Jogyesa Temple is stirring up a buzz. The Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism Social Welfare Foundation will host a two-day, one-night Templestay for 20 unmarried men and women in their 20s and 30s at Jogyesa Temple in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 18th and 19th.
The event aims to make participants realize the importance of connections and foster healthy human relationships. It is part of the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s 2023 Population Education Activation Support Project.
The 20 participants will spend time building good connections through wholesome encounters. They will participate in various programs, including a Templestay based on Buddhist culture, special lectures on relationships, and recreational activities.
Participation is free, and registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. Organizers will place applicants on a waiting list if they exceed the limit. Unmarried men and women in their 20s and 30s can apply regardless of their religion.
The Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, Social Welfare Foundation, described the Templestay for Blind Date as “not merely a gathering of men and women, but a time to meet good connections who can comfort and share the loneliness of modern people living in contemporary society.” They further stated, “We aim to improve the consumerist and hedonistic culture of relationships and create opportunities for healthy human relationships through raising awareness of mutual respect and the importance of connections.”
This is not the first time the Jogye Order has held such an event. It first started at Heungguk Temple in Goyang, initially conducted in collaboration with the marriage consulting company Duo. At the time, 15 pairs of unmarried men and women in their 30s and 40s who were looking for partners participated. Since then, the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism Social Welfare Foundation has regularly held the event under its auspices.
② Religious Communities Stepping Forward to Encourage Marriage
Templestay for Blind Date began in 2008 as part of the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s project to activate population education. The organizers conducted it to build precious connections, fostering enjoyable encounters with good people beyond just seeking marriage.
It’s a Templestay where you can find a marriage partner while spending meaningful time at the temple.
So far, 577 unmarried men and women have participated in the 29 sessions. As soon as the organizers announced the application call, participants fully booked the Templestay for Blind Date at Jogyesa Temple. The event, conducted free of charge, attracted significant interest.
People responded with comments like, “Are you finding a partner while doing a Templestay?”, “Marriage information companies hate Templestays,” “How much are people not getting married that they’re even doing it at temples…” and “Are monks running a dating program?”
Christian communities are also organizing gatherings for unmarried men and women. ChristianMate operates a Christian dating app and conducts online matching and offline events through managers who analyze individual preferences and tastes.
The Heartbeat Rotation Party is open to men aged 26-39 and women aged 24-39. The participation fee is 90,000 won (approximately $75). Participants will have time to get to know each other by rotating every 10 minutes, asking questions while looking at profile cards, and having time to promote themselves. Many participants have successfully matched into couples at the party.
In June, Gumi City in North Gyeongsang Province held “Heartbeat~ing” for 50 unmarried men and women. “Heartbeat~ing,” part of the city’s response to population decline, provides a venue for natural communication and interaction among available men and women, instilling a positive perception of dating and marriage. Since its inception in 2016, it has matched 105 couples, 16 of which have married and started families. Gumi City, Seongnam, Daegu, Ulsan, and other places are arranging blind dates to encourage marriage.
③ Serious Low Birth Rate Problem
South Korea’s low birth rate is progressing faster than expected. In 2022, the total fertility rate in South Korea is 0.78 per woman of childbearing age. The total fertility rate for the first quarter of 2023 is 0.81, and for the second quarter, it is 0.70. Seoul’s total fertility rate for the second quarter is the lowest in the country at 0.53. Currently, the fertility rates of 14 major provinces and cities in South Korea are below 1.
In August, the number of births decreased by 12.8% compared to the same period last year. If this trend continues, the total fertility rate could fall into the 0.7 range. South Korea’s fertility rate is the lowest not only in the OECD but also in the world.
Willem Adema, a senior researcher studying family policies in the OECD for 30 years, pointed out Korea’s long working hours culture as one of the main causes of the low birth rate. He analyzed that this makes it difficult to balance work and family life and causes the female employment rate to fall below the OECD average. He pointed out that high private education and housing costs are reasons people hesitate to have children.
By. Seo Sung Min
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