A couple who met through a Buddhist temple matchmaking program are reported to have welcomed a baby boy, marking the first birth associated with an initiative established by the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism in response to South Korea’s declining birthrate.
The child was born on 16 July to a couple who met in August 2024 during a “Naneun Jeollo” (translated as “I’m Going to the Temple)” two-day retreat held at Naksan Temple in Gangwon Province. The couple married in October 2025.
During the retreat, the participants were identified as Gyeonu No. 5 and Jingnyeo No. 8, names derived from a Korean folk tale about a cowherd and a weaver who are permitted to meet only once each year. By the conclusion of the retreat, the two participants had confirmed that they wished to continue their relationship.
“‘Naneun Jeollo’ is a project to overcome the low birthrate, so above all I am delighted that the first baby has been born,” said a planning and public relations officer at the Jogye Order’s social welfare foundation, Yoo Chul-ju. “The foundation will send a gift to mark the birth.” (Korea JoonAng Daily)
The Korean Buddhist Foundation for Social Welfare launched the current version of the matchmaking program in November 2023. It was developed from an earlier temple-based matchmaking retreat that had operated since 2013.
The program is open to participants regardless of religious affiliation. Organizers say that its combination of temple life and social activities allows single men and women to meet in a less pressured environment, while encouraging reflection on relationships, marriage, and South Korea’s demographic future.
Participants wear traditional temple clothing and take part in activities including tea conversations, forest walks, yoga, trust-building exercises, and a series of individual dates. Pairings are sometimes determined by drawing numbered sticks or matching participants with personal belongings placed on display.
“My impression is that getting to know people in a temple setting is a completely new experience for me, which feels really fresh, and I think it allows you to get to know someone more seriously,” said participant Kim Do-yeon. (The News Herald)
Interest in the retreats has grown substantially. A session held at Naksan Temple on 11–12 July received 4,225 applications for 20 available places, representing more than 211 applicants for each position.
Three retreats held during 2026 have reportedly resulted in 19 couples. Six couples formed among 20 participants at Seonun Temple in North Jeolla Province, eight among 24 participants at Donghwa Temple in Daegu, and five among 20 participants at Naksan Temple. Three couples formed through the broader program have married, another is expected to marry in October, and several others are reportedly considering marriage.
Organizers describe the retreats as a contribution to address South Korea’s long-term demographic challenges. The country’s total fertility rate—the average number of children expected to be born to each woman—rose from 0.75 in 2024 to 0.80 in 2025, its second consecutive annual increase. Nevertheless, government projections indicate that the country’s population, presently about 51.8 million, could decline by almost one-third by 2072.
“I hope this journey becomes a time to reflect on the low birthrate issue and to think about alternatives for our future,” the head of the Korean Buddhist Foundation for Social Welfare, Ven. Doryun, told retreat participants. (The News Herald)
Buddhism remains one of South Korea’s major religious traditions, although the proportion of citizens identifying with a religion has declined in recent decades. The Jogye Order, the country’s largest Buddhist order, administers many of South Korea’s best-known monasteries and has increasingly developed cultural, educational, and social-welfare programs intended to engage younger generations.
Naksan Temple, where the couple first met, was founded in 671 during the Silla Dynasty. Located near South Korea’s northeastern coast, the historic monastery is now among the temples hosting programs that combine traditional Buddhist culture with contemporary social concerns.
See more
Temple matchmaking retreat couple welcomes first baby in Korean Buddhism birthrate campaign (Korea JoongAng Daily)
South Korean singles look for matches at Buddhist temple retreat (The News Herald)
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