In a hall decorated with pink balloons, garlands of flowers bearing romantic messages, and melodious love songs playing in the background, they sat randomly at pre-arranged tables, chatting and participating in various activities, thereby introducing themselves, getting to know members of the opposite sex, and potentially developing deeper romantic relationships later on. Notably, this "group blind date" was organized for the first time by the city government.

This model of public matchmaking, sponsored by the government, is not new to many countries around the world and is becoming increasingly popular in local areas of South Korea. It is the latest in a series of measures by the local government to encourage people to get married amidst a growing trend of young people being reluctant to marry or have children.

A scene from the first-ever matchmaking event organized by the Seongnam city government (Gyeonggi Province, South Korea). Photo: The New York Times

"Negative attitudes toward marriage continue to spread in Korean society. Therefore, local governments need to play a role in creating an environment where those who wish to marry can find a life partner," The New York Times quoted Seongnam City Mayor Shin Sang-jin as stating.

In recent years, marriage rates have declined worldwide, but this is particularly concerning in South Korea. Bloomberg, citing data recently released by the Korea Statistics Agency (KOSTAT), reports that in 2022, only about 192,000 couples married in Asia's fourth-largest economy , a 0.4% decrease from the previous year. Notably, this is the lowest number since 1970, when KOSTAT began compiling relevant data, and marks the 11th consecutive year of decline.

This demographic trend in South Korea has raised concerns about a declining population, a shrinking workforce, and a shrinking economy. According to The Korea Times, the South Korean government has listed 89 regions nationwide as areas experiencing "declining populations" and allocates 1 trillion won (approximately $760 million USD) annually to support matchmaking programs aimed at boosting marriage and birth rates in these areas.

ARM

*Please visit the International section to view related news and articles.