More than half of the participants in a recent temple stay program at Baekyang Temple found romantic connections. (Image courtesy of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism Social Welfare Foundation)
SEOUL, Nov. 4 (Korea Bizwire) – In an unusual blend of spiritual retreat and modern matchmaking, more than half of the participants in a recent temple stay program at Baekyang Temple found romantic connections, according to the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism Social Welfare Foundation.
The two-day program, which concluded on November 3 at Baekyang Temple in Jangseong County, South Jeolla Province, resulted in seven pairs of participants expressing mutual interest in one another. The event drew 12 men and 12 women, who were carefully selected from a pool of nearly 1,000 applicants – 472 men and 475 women.
Venerable Mugong, the head monk at Baekyang Temple, presented the new couples with special monetary gifts, expressing his hopes for their relationships to flourish beyond the temple stay experience.
During their stay, participants had the unique opportunity to learn about temple cuisine under the guidance of Jeong Kwan, a Buddhist nun and renowned chef of Korean cuisine.
“Just as we must treat ingredients with care when cooking, we must treat ourselves with the same respect,” Jeong Kwan advised the participants. “Only by valuing ourselves can we attract meaningful relationships.”
More than half of the participants in a recent temple stay program at Baekyang Temple found romantic connections. (Image courtesy of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism Social Welfare Foundation)
The program included various cultural activities centered around Buddhist traditions. One participant, identified by the pseudonym Park Gil-dong, described the temple cooking experience as “truly memorable and extraordinary.”
Another participant, using the pseudonym Kwon Gil-soon, expressed joy at finding a potential relationship in such a meaningful setting.
Building on this success, the foundation has announced plans for a reunion event. Scheduled for December 14-15 at the Korean Culture Training Institute in Gongju, South Chungcheong Province, the gathering will bring together participants from various temple stay programs throughout the year.
The event’s success rate at matchmaking – with more than 50% of participants finding potential partners – stands out particularly given the competitive selection process, where less than 3% of applicants were chosen to participate.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
