Seoul Metropolitan Government recruiting participants for 'Seoulting' night market edition
Open to unmarried men and women aged 25–45 living in Seoul
Applications accepted through Oct. 14; previous Han River Bus edition saw 56% match rate
The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced Monday it will hold "Seollem in Seoul: Night Market Edition," the second event in its singles matchmaking program "Seoulting 2.0," at the Sangbong Food Alley in Jungnang-gu on Oct. 23.
The event follows the Han River Bus edition held Sept. 19 and is designed to help singles find a connection in the relaxed atmosphere of an outdoor night market. Sangbong Food Alley is one of the sites the city recently selected for its "Seoul Moonlit Night Market" initiative, which creates outdoor dining and leisure spaces across the city.
The city said it is preparing a range of activities suited to the casual night-market setting, including curated restaurant experiences, two-on-two outdoor dates and alley strolls.
Applications are open through 5 p.m. on Wednesday. Interested participants can apply via a Naver form accessible through the Tansaeng Yuga Mongtang Jeongbotong platform or a QR code on the event poster. Applicants must submit a copy of their resident registration, a detailed marriage status certificate and one of the following: an employment certificate, a business registration certificate or an income certificate.
The event is open to unmarried men and women between the ages of 25 and 45 who are registered as Seoul residents and are employed — whether as salaried workers, self-employed individuals or freelancers. The city plans to select 50 men and 50 women through a random draw from among all applicants.
The first Seoulting 2.0 event, held near Ttukseom Han River Park, drew 2,370 applications for 100 spots and produced 28 couples, for a match rate of 56 percent.
A satisfaction survey of participants found that 98.9 percent responded positively to holding such events on a regular basis. Another 96.7 percent said they had applied because they wanted to get married but lacked opportunities to meet potential partners.
The city has held five Seoulting events in total since launching the program in November 2024. Cumulative applications have reached 13,854, with 126 couples matched for an overall match rate of 50.4 percent. The average competition ratio was 28 to 1, with a peak of 36 to 1.
After each event, the city plans to continue supporting participants by running open group chat rooms and sharing information on cultural programs such as performances and exhibitions.
"Following the Han River Bus edition, we designed the night market edition to let participants enjoy the mood of an autumn evening — building the excitement of a first meeting while easing the pressure," said Ma Chae-suk, head of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Women and Family Bureau.
ken@heraldcorp.com
