Passion for Meetings Continues After Official Program
Exceptionally Serving Pasta Instead of Jeolbap
40s Special Episode Held Privately as an Exception
The temple stay program "I Am at the Temple" has become popular among unmarried men and women, and for the first time, a special event for people in their 40s resulted in the formation of four couples.
On the 7th, Yonhap News reported that the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism Social Welfare Foundation held "I Am at the Temple, Hwagyesa" on the 5th and 6th at Hwagyesa Temple in Gangbuk-gu, Seoul, with 140 men and 235 women applying to participate. Among the 10 men and 10 women selected through document screening and other processes, four couples expressed mutual interest. The organizers facilitated natural interactions among participants through self-introductions, recreational activities, communal meals, temple walks, tea time, couple photo contests, and low birthrate education.
The temple stay "Naneun Jeollo" for unmarried men and women has become a hot topic among young people, and as a special edition for people in their 40s tried for the first time, four couples were formed. [Photo by Yonhap News]
Hwagyesa prepared dinner for the participants including gimbap, sweet potatoes, fried pumpkin, and tteokbokki. Unusually, pasta was also served as temple food. While the program itself was similar to previous "I Am at the Temple" events, the enthusiasm of this group, who started looking for partners relatively late, stood out. It is known that even after the official program ended on the first night, participants did not go to sleep immediately but gathered in rooms to continue conversations with partners they had feelings for.
The participants included various professions such as self-employed individuals, teachers, and employees in public enterprises and financial sectors, with some serving as middle managers at their workplaces. The organizers had previously obtained consent from participants in their 30s, who formed the main group, to disclose their faces and other information. However, this special event for people in their 40s was conducted privately as an exception. A representative of "I Am at the Temple" said that the Hwagyesa event was held in a more relaxed atmosphere and that some participants responded that "without cameras, they felt less nervous."
The Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism Social Welfare Foundation started "I Am at the Temple" in November 2023 at Jogyesa Temple with the aim of overcoming the low birthrate issue, and it has continued to create couples up to this Hwagyesa edition, gaining popularity among young people. Accordingly, the foundation will hold "I Am at the Temple, Baekyangsa" on the 2nd and 3rd of next month at Baekyangsa Temple in Jangseong-gun, Jeollanam-do, targeting 10 men and 10 women in their 30s. Participants will have the opportunity to taste food prepared by Master Monk Jeonggwan, who has passed on temple food secrets to Michelin Guide star chefs.
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