Seoul's final 'Seoult-ing' matchmaking event set for Dec. 12 at DDP

The final edition of "Seoult-ing," Seoul's city-run matchmaking program for single residents, will be held Dec. 12 at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Jung-gu.

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, this will be the third Seoult-ing event of the year, following a river cruise date on the Han River in September and an autumn night outdoor dining event in October. The city said it planned the latest edition at DDP — one of Seoul's landmark cultural venues — to give participants a chance to meet someone new in the lead-up to Christmas.

Participants will be able to tour DDP's exhibition spaces or take an evening stroll to enjoy the city's night skyline. The event is open to single men and women between the ages of 25 and 45 who live in Seoul and are employed. The city plans to select 75 men and 75 women — 150 in total — through a random draw. Interested residents can apply through the Tansaeng Yuka Mongtang Jeongbotong website until Nov. 30.

The city said it will also provide follow-up support to ensure Seoult-ing does not end as a one-time encounter. It will run an open group chat for participants and share information on follow-up gatherings, as well as seasonal cultural programs — including performances and exhibitions — that couples can enjoy together.

Since the program launched in November 2024, Seoult-ing has drawn a cumulative 17,672 applicants, of whom 10,294, or 58.3 percent, were women. A Seoul city official said demand among women for a safe, publicly operated matchmaking event had been strong.

A total of 179 couples have gone on to form relationships through the program. The average competition ratio per showing has been 25 to 1, and a participant satisfaction survey found that many respondents hoped the events would be held on a regular basis, the city said.

Ma Chae-suk, head of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Women and Family Bureau, said the DDP edition was designed to help people find new connections at a space where culture and design come together, just ahead of Christmas at year's end.