The “Romance in Hangang” poster (Image courtesy of Seoul City)
SEOUL, Nov. 15 (Korea Bizwire) – A romantic yacht dating event on Seoul’s Han River, titled “Romance in Hangang” has drawn an exceptionally high number of applicants, with a competition rate of 33 to 1, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on November 14.
The event, co-organized with Woori Card and scheduled for November 23, received 3,286 applications for just 100 spots, evenly split between men and women. The gender distribution of applicants was nearly balanced, with men accounting for 51% and women 49% of total applications.
Male applicants numbered 1,679, creating a competition rate of 33 to 1, while 1,607 women applied, resulting in a slightly lower rate of 32 to 1. Age distribution among applicants showed 26% were aged 25-29, 45% were 30-34, and 29% were 35-39.
The applicant pool notably included professionals from male-dominated fields such as IT and public service (firefighters and police officers), as well as female-dominated professions like elementary school teachers and nurses. Many applicants cited difficulty meeting potential partners due to repetitive daily routines of work, home, and exercise.
The city government will select 50 men and 50 women through a lottery system after document review, with results to be announced individually on November 15. The selection process includes verification of residency, employment status, marital status through submitted documents, and background checks for any history of sexual offenses.
The event will run from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. on November 23 at Some Sevit in Banpo Hangang Park. It will feature various group dating activities including Han River yacht tours, recreational games, and one-on-one conversations. At the event’s conclusion, participants will rank their top three preferred matches.
Final couples will be matched the day after the event, with priority given to mutual first-choice selections. Kim Seon-soon, head of Seoul’s Women and Family Office, expressed hope that “many couples will form through this opportunity to meet compatible partners.”
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
