Jake Kwon

A Buddhist temple in South Korea hosts a state-supported dating retreat designed to address the country’s severe fertility decline, bringing together 24 young adults for structured matchmaking activities. Participants navigate social challenges, dates, and group events as monks and organizers frame the program as a civic duty aligned with national demographic concerns. Amid rising social isolation and declining birth and marriage rates, the initiative reflects broader government efforts to encourage family formation. By the retreat’s end, eight couples form while many leave with renewed confidence and new friendships.