In Pics | Joy, hope and concerns as South Korean city turns to matchmaking
Mass blind-dating event
This mass blind-dating event, orchestrated by Seongnam City, aimed to counteract the diminishing interest in marriage and parenthood.
The vibe
Participants, mainly in their 20s and 30s, initially sat in quiet anticipation until a relationship coach enlivened the atmosphere with a rock-paper-scissors game, sparking lively conversations.
Seongnam City spared no effort
Seongnam City spared no effort in facilitating potential matches, providing red wine, chocolates, games, free make-up services, and even background checks for the singles.
Impact
After five rounds this year, 198 individuals out of 460 left the event as "couples," having agreed to exchange contacts.
Seoul's unsuccessful attempt
Interestingly, the capital, Seoul, contemplated a similar event but faced criticism for potentially overlooking the root causes behind people's reluctance to marry and have children, such as exorbitant housing and education costs.
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