People say winning someone else's heart is the hardest thing. Today I'm determined to make it happen.
On the morning of the 9th, 24 men and women sat side by side, tense and quiet, on the maru—the wooden gathering floor—at Donghwasa Temple on Palgongsan in Daegu. In the shade of the 1,000-year-old temple, conversations turned away from sutras and toward hobbies and ideal partners. For two days, Donghwasa took on the air of a speed-dating venue, evoking a reality dating show.
This was the scene for \"I Go to the Temple, Donghwasa,\" a singles meet-up run by the Jogye Order Social Welfare Foundation. The event drew 1,602 applicants—855 men and 747 women—making it the second-highest application total nationwide after last year's Shinheungsa session.
Selection was competitive. A foundation official said they worked through hundreds of applications overnight and focused on applicants who showed a strong commitment to dating and who appeared to take care of themselves. The official called the late-night date the program's highlight and noted that at some temples, conversations have stretched until 3 a.m.
Hye‑mun, director of Donghwasa's training center, laughed and said the program was organized from the belief that marriage and childbirth still matter today. She added that organizers carefully considered age and temperament to boost the chances of forming couples.
When the event began, one man broke the ice by handing out homemade cookies. Between shy smiles, participants started trading details about their jobs, hobbies and views on relationships.
\"I came expecting a field of flowers—there are so many people who feel like flowers here,\" one participant said. \"I want to meet someone as calm and warm as a temple.\" Others said they wanted to break out of a routine of work and home, or signed up because they'd heard the program often produces couples. Each person voiced hopes and nerves in short, candid lines.
Reactions from friends and family varied. One participant said friends offered advice ranging from what to wear to dating tips. Another said only a coworker who filmed their self-introduction knew they were attending and that they'd tell others only if they ended up as a couple.
After introductions, the group moved to a \"random date\" format in which partners chose an item from each other's belongings. Paired participants walked Donghwasa's grounds together, discussing exercise, religion and views on marriage. Over a communal lunch, conversations continued as they tried to get to know one another.
By afternoon the mood had warmed. Participants revealed hidden charms in a talent showcase that included dance, song, poetry recitation and instrumental performances. Applause and cheers helped ease the awkwardness.
Later, participants changed into gray robes and carried on with one-on-one conversations and evening meals, extending the dates late into the night. As time passed, deciding grew harder. \"Everyone's attractive, so I can't figure out who to pursue,\" one man admitted, unsure whom to keep talking with.
The late-night \"Suda Sammaegyeong\" session—literally a \"chit-chat trance\"—did the most to loosen the mood. Laughter echoed through the seondang (meditation) rooms, and conversations stretched into the early hours.
After final selections the next morning, the Donghwasa \"I Go to the Temple\" program wrapped up. It produced eight couples in total.
Seon‑gwang, Donghwasa's head monk, said he believes visitors leave the temple with good energy. \"Though the time is short, I hope they relax, enjoy themselves and build meaningful connections,\" he said.
The Jogye Order Social Welfare Foundation plans to continue the \"I Go to the Temple\" program at temples across different regions.
