Thousands of young South Koreans have applied for a Buddhist matchmaking retreat that combines traditional temple activities with modern dating, as the country searches for new ways to address its severe demographic crisis.
The two-day event was held at Naksansa, a historic hilltop temple in Yangyang County on South Korea’s north-eastern coast. Founded during the Silla Dynasty in 671, the temple provided an unusual setting for 20 single men and women hoping to form meaningful relationships.
Demand for the retreat reached a record level, with 4,225 people competing for only 20 available places, according to the Korean Buddhist Foundation for Social Welfare.
The foundation launched the matchmaking initiative in 2023 as part of wider efforts to confront South Korea’s declining marriage and birth rates. Organisers believe the programme can encourage young adults to meet in a relaxed environment while also prompting discussion about the country’s demographic future.
Participants wore traditional temple clothing and took part in activities designed to build trust and encourage conversation. In one exercise, pairs walked hand-in-hand while one person was blindfolded and the other guided them towards a temple gate associated with a legend about dreams coming true.
Other activities included selecting partners by drawing numbered sticks, identifying each other through personal belongings, drinking tea in groups and walking through nearby forests. Some participants also attended beachside yoga sessions and took part in a series of rotating one-on-one dates.
Unlike a conventional blind date lasting only a few hours, the full-weekend format allowed participants more time to observe one another’s personalities and develop deeper connections.
Participant Choi Ye-ri, 30, said she joined because she expected the competitive selection process to attract serious and suitable candidates. She also noted that, despite national concerns about falling marriage rates, many people around her continued to date and form relationships.
Another participant, Kim Do-yeon, said meeting people at a Buddhist temple felt fresh and different from ordinary dating experiences. The peaceful environment encouraged participants to approach potential relationships more thoughtfully and seriously.
Venerable Doryun, who leads the Korean Buddhist Foundation for Social Welfare, told attendees that the retreat was intended to achieve more than simply creating romantic matches. He hoped the programme would encourage young people to reflect on South Korea’s low birth rate and consider possible solutions for the country’s future.
South Korea continues to have the world’s lowest fertility rate. Government figures showed the total fertility rate—the average number of children expected to be born to each woman—rose to 0.80 in 2025 from 0.75 in 2024. It was the second consecutive annual increase, providing cautious hope that the long-running decline may be beginning to stabilise.
However, the country still faces an enormous demographic challenge. South Korea’s population, currently about 51.8 million, is projected to shrink by almost one-third by 2072 if present trends continue.
The falling birth rate has been linked to several social and economic pressures, including expensive housing, demanding workplace expectations, high childcare and education costs, and changing attitudes towards marriage and family life.
South Korean authorities have spent heavily on financial incentives, childcare programmes and other policies intended to encourage marriage and parenthood. The Buddhist matchmaking retreat represents a more community-focused approach by helping single people meet face-to-face in an environment removed from the pressure of dating apps and formal matchmaking services.
The overwhelming number of applicants suggests that many young Koreans remain interested in relationships despite widespread concerns about delayed marriage and declining fertility. Organisers hope that future retreats can continue connecting singles while also drawing attention to one of South Korea’s most urgent long-term challenges.
