Twelve men and 12 women enter a Buddhist temple - will the monks help them find love?
A Buddhist temple in South Korea is hosting dating retreats for young singles in an effort to combat the country's record-low birth rate. The initiative aims to help participants find partners and address the national crisis of declining fertility.
Why it matters
South Korea's fertility rate is the lowest in the world, posing a significant threat to the nation's long-term economic and social stability.
Image source, BBC/ Hosu Lee By Jake Kwon Seoul correspondent , Reporting from Donghwasa Temple Published 42 minutes ago A monk draped in burnt-orange robes faces a row of young men and women and tells them they're here on a mission to save their country. By finding a partner and one day having babies.
The participants giggle, nervously stealing glances from their prospective matches.
This isn't the start of a new hit reality show. It's a real-life dating retreat held at an 8th Century Buddhist temple nestled in the lush greenery of South Korea's Palgongsan mountain.
It's a 30-hour affair which will feature back-to-back activities and a steady stream of awkward moments, all in the pursuit of breaking the ice and finding love.
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