Hey travelers, if you’re planning a trip to South Korea, you might stumble upon something rather unique in the Buddhist temples there. Forget the usual chanting and meditation—monks are now dabbling in matchmaking!
According to the Korea Herald on Sunday (July 28), the Korean Buddhist Foundation has taken on one of the country’s biggest challenges: low birth rates. Yep, you heard that right. Monks are stepping in to help singles find love.
For these monks, helping singles isn’t exactly a new gig. The Korean Buddhist Welfare Foundation launched a temple stay program for singles back in 2012. But it didn’t make headlines like it does today.
The program saw a major revamp last November. Twenty singles, split evenly between men and women, were invited to get to know each other and potentially pair up. This bold shift from traditional Buddhist practices, like meditation, to modern-day matchmaking is quite the leap.
An anonymous foundation official revealed that monks have always been serious about “connecting people,” a mission now shining a spotlight on the lonely hearts out there.
The government is all for it. Joo Hyung-hwan, vice president of the Presidential Committee on Aging Society and Population Policy, will join the upcoming temple stay at Naksansa, a temple in Yangyang County, Gangwon Province, on August 9-10.
Registration for the five-day program closed on Friday afternoon, with over 1,000 singles signing up. This is a record-breaking number since the matchmaking program was first introduced in 2012.
At Naksansa, 20 singles—10 women and 10 men aged 30 to 39—will kick things off with a blind date led by monks. Just picture it: monks in robes guiding nervous singles through the awkward first date phase. Classic.
The monks will also engage in more spiritual activities, teaching the basics of Buddhist traditions from morning chants to bows and meditation. The staff will assist singles in finding a match in person, as participants share their preferences.
There’s even talk of a reunion event for all previous participants in the singles program, possibly in October. Because what’s better than a second chance at love in the serene surroundings of a Buddhist temple?
So, if you’re single and ready to mingle, why not let a monk help you find your soulmate? It’s spiritual guidance with a twist—who could resist?