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.
“Buddhists have always been the first to take action when our country is in trouble,” says host Yoo Cheol-ju, referring to when Donghwasa Temple served as a camp for monk militias defending Korea against Japanese invaders in the 1500s.
But this time the threat isn’t from abroad.
“Low births are a national crisis. We had to do something about it,” Yoo says.
