Hanwha General Insurance and Seoul City Host 'Excitement, Art Night'
2,356 Applicants for 100 Spots... 23:1 Competition Rate
Alleviating Loneliness Through Matchmaking Events... Additional Event Planned for Second Half of the Year
"Look into each other's eyes for 10 seconds. Feelings of love might blossom."
On February 14th, Valentine's Day, the 'Excitement, Art Night' event for unmarried men and women was held at the Hanwha General Insurance Hannam Building located in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. The space where young men and women, dressed up to the nines, shyly looked at each other and conversed was already like spring. Even while enjoying conversations, when it was time for rotation, various expressions were exchanged. From participants quietly gazing at the backs of the opposite sex being replaced to glancing at the newly approaching person with hopeful eyes, feelings of regret and excitement intertwined.
At the ‘Excitement, Art Night’ singles meeting event held on the 14th at Hanwha General Insurance Hannam Building in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, participants are making eye contact for 10 seconds. Photo by Choi Dong-hyun
In an era where people ask about MBTI before names, the key theme connecting fateful encounters at this event was 'Art.' Upon entering the first floor of the venue, participants selected four art postcards. Those who chose Fragonard's "The Lock," depicting sensual love between a man and a woman, and Munch's "The Kiss," showing intertwined bodies of a man and woman, were grouped together. Choosing Klimt's "The Kiss," which expresses a kiss between a man and woman with vivid colors, or Renoir's "Dance at Bougival," depicting a man and woman in suits and dresses dancing, meant stepping closer to a destined connection. Kim Chan-yong, CEO of Talk About Art, who guided the event and provided docent services, explained, "Art is a medium that allows people to enjoy art itself without being bound by money and to share emotions with others. This is why we chose art as the concept for this event and formed meeting groups based on art preferences."
Participants moved around the venue, decorated like an art museum, appreciating artworks and playing bingo games while slowly continuing their conversations. If they found someone attractive, they could check simple profiles such as occupation and residence on a pre-provided website. Mailboxes were placed throughout the venue where participants could express their interest in someone by dropping a 'signal ticket' with the person's number. The system immediately notified them if someone expressed interest in them during the event. If both parties liked each other, a couple was formed. A woman in her 30s said, "I usually have no chance to meet new people because of work, but thanks to this event, I could meet various people in a different way. I also have hopes of forming a good relationship."
The event was co-hosted by Hanwha General Insurance and the Seoul Metropolitan Government. With 2,356 applicants for 100 spots, the competition rate was as high as 23 to 1. There were 974 male applicants with a 19 to 1 ratio and 1,382 female applicants with a 27 to 1 ratio. The age distribution was 17% for 25-29 years old, 40% for 30-34 years old, 31% for 35-39 years old, and 12% for 40-45 years old.
Participants are having conversations at the 'Excitement, Art Night' singles meeting event held on the 14th at Hanwha General Insurance Hannam Building in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Photo by Hanwha General Insurance
Hanwha General Insurance's hosting of a matchmaking event for men and women appears to be an effort to alleviate the social disease of loneliness through healthy encounters. According to the 'Loneliness and Relationship Perception Survey Report of Men and Women Aged 25-39' published by Hanwha General Insurance's Femtech Research Institute in August last year, 7 out of 10 unmarried men and women aged 25-39 reported feeling lonely. Severe loneliness can lead to mental illnesses such as depression. Hanwha General Insurance developed insurance coverage for mental illness diagnoses including depression and obtained exclusive usage rights from the General Insurance Association in October last year. Han Jung-sun, head of the LIFEPLUS Femtech Research Institute at Hanwha General Insurance, who planned this event, said, "The fact that 70% of young men and women feel lonely is not just a personal emotion but indicates a social need to support healthy relationship formation. Last year, we sponsored the unmarried men and women meeting event ‘D?ner en Blanc,’ and this time, we prepared a more systematic opportunity to expand social networks."
When young men and women meet, marry, have children, and form families, it also benefits insurance companies. Low birth rates and aging populations are the biggest ongoing challenges in the insurance industry. The institute head added, "We are planning another event with a similar concept in the second half of this year and will continue to support more young people to have meaningful encounters."
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