Dating is just as fun in exciting for you people in Korea as it is anywhere! Twenty-somethings looking for love in South Korea turn to the dating world like most people their age all over the world. Although tradition still tends to play a part, discovering love (or at the very least attempting to) is happening everywhere here, and things are most definitely changing!

There really is so much to talk about, it’s super hard to cover everything, even in a ten plus minute video where we try to pack in as much info as humanly possible in a YouTube video. One of the biggies I’m noticing is how TV and Korean dramas are having a social impact on what young women and men expect from each other. I’m calling this one the ‘Korean Princess Syndrome.’ As some of you may know who watch dramas from this country, some of the storylines play it up for how nicely a man treats a woman. So much so that, in certain instances, the treatment in the drama is indeed somewhat unrealistic. This sort of thing has been happening to American youth for years and years now from Hollywood, and is now starting to happen on the internet from (drum roll plz..) YouTube of all places!

I even commented about this in the video. A new friend of ours (he just began dating a our long time friend) was telling us at dinner how he’s felt pressure from the way characters in dramas are treating their love interests. Of course in a free society such as here in South Korea people are allowed to make their own decisions. But as we all know, it’s human nature to be influenced by what we see, and this includes what we watch on television. So Kdramas do appear to be having an impact on social dating behavior, but not everything portrayed in them is accurate and how things actually are.

One of the hang-ups young people here are running into is the 2 year military obligation that all men in this country must serve. This service that each man must fulfill includes zero communication by internet or phone for much of the time he is away. This even includes contact with one’s parents or immediate family. Men usually enter the military between the ages of 21-26, so it cuts right into not only their dating practice but also the time at university. Richard hears all sorts of stories from his students about men who might stop attempting to date because they only have 2-03 months more before their military service begins. On the flip side of that, some actually put their search into overdrive so as to enter the military with a girl possibly waiting the 2 years until he is released. All sorts of different scenarios seem to be occurring.

PDA or Public Display of Affection in our observation does appear to be slowly on the rise. Our campus is a lively one, and hugs and kisses can be seen more frequently depending on what time of day I’m out there. There is also a mountain that separates to two sides of campus, with plenty of places to escape to if couples or curious friends want a bit of privacy. Couples especially enjoy just walking around in each other’s presence.

Below are places Young Koreans might like to go on dates together:

Restaurants
Zoo
Sports game
Amusement park
Go for a walk
Go shopping
Coffee shops
Movies
Bang culture – ‘bang bang’
Dancing/hongdae
Music concerts
The beach
The park
The bar
Historical spot
Hiking/the mountain
The aquarium
Scenic overlook
Namsan tower

And these are just to name a few. What about in your country, what are things young people like to do on dates? I’d love to find out more about how this list and what we talked about in the video relate to what you’ve seen or experienced where you are from!☺