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[Sports Seoul | Reporter Bae Woo-geun] Matchmaking firm Sunwoo’s Couple.net has opened a dedicated speed-dating venue in Pyeongchang-dong, Seoul, and introduced a new follow-up matching system.
Speed-dating pairs participants for a series of one-on-one conversations as they rotate through the room, combining elements of blind dates and group mixers. Unlike traditional matchmaking that relies on a handful of arranged meetings, this format lets people meet a larger number of potential partners in a short period.
The new venue is designed to improve the quality of those conversations. It offers a private setting that minimizes outside distractions, seating arranged to promote natural dialogue, and a layout intended to keep interactions flowing. The goal is to make brief meetings feel more substantive.
◇ The key is a follow-up matching system
Participants sign up as members, apply, undergo approval screening, and pay a participation fee. On the day of the event, they rotate through sequential conversations with multiple attendees.
The follow-up phase is central. Starting at midnight on the event day and for one week afterward, attendees can use the site’s “My Events” feature to request meetings with any participant. This lets people reassess matches after the event and pursue connections beyond the initial encounters.
If interest is mutual, up to three matches can exchange contact information free of charge. To curb indiscriminate requests, organizers also apply screening criteria during the application process.
◇ Lower costs, broader participation
Participation fees are set between 100,000–200,000 KRW (about $75–$150). That lowers the barrier compared with typical matchmaking services, which can cost several million KRW (roughly $2,300) for five to six arranged meetings.
The company reports a success rate above 30% for participants who go on to date.
The program now runs year-round: weekday afternoons feature programs for single seniors in their 60s and 70s, while weekends focus on singles considering first marriages or remarriage.
A company representative said, “A good match shouldn’t end with the first meeting; it’s important to have a structure that allows connections to continue. This dedicated space is meant to change how people meet.”
kenny@sportsseoul.com
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