I read this article from the most recent issue of the Up Front magazine I receive each week. The article is short, but very interesting and somewhat shocked me. The South Korean government is getting more involved in their citizens and their dating life. They are encouraging young adults to meet each other and get married in order to procreate. Some of the reasons why they are encouraging matchmaking is that the country's birth rate has plummeted in recent years and women are getting married later or putting off having children all together so they can focus on their careers. Another reason they are marrying later is that young South Korean couples were traditionally introduced by elderly village women. Now, young couples are facing things such as online matchmaking sites and are skeptical of these. (I would be too).
In order to address the problems with birth rates and declining marriage statistics, the government is organizing matchmaking socials, where they perform background checks on singles, set up parties, and then hope that the young adults will mingle freely...and perhaps find a match.
Why did this interest me? Well, I personally am in the midst of playing matchmaker myself. I have never set anyone up before, but two young adults I know (their identities will remain a mystery) are seriously perfect for each other, so I have gotten them in contact and they are planning to meet soon. I kind of feel like one of those elderly South Korean village ladies. Well, as long as it turns out!
I also think it is interesting that the country of South Korea is so invested in pairing up young couples. It would be so odd if the United States began playing matchmaker and trying to set up citizens in their 20s. The whole concept actually seems somewhat sci fi to me and reminds me of the Matched series by Ally Condie, which you can read about by clicking on the link.
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