A parody travel event inspired by the TV dating show "Naneun Solo," the "Naneun Jeolro" program unfolded at Naksansa temple in Gangwon Province, organized by the Gangwon Tourism Foundation and the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism.
A parody travel event inspired by the TV dating show "Naneun Solo," the "Naneun Jeolro" program unfolded at Naksansa temple in Gangwon Province, organized by the Gangwon Tourism Foundation and the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism.
A parody travel event inspired by the TV dating show "Naneun Solo," the "Naneun Jeolro" program was held at Naksansa temple, a creative collaboration between the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism and the Gangwon Tourism Foundation.
A parody travel event inspired by the TV dating show "Naneun Solo," the "Naneun Jeolro" program was held at Naksansa temple, a creative collaboration between the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism and the Gangwon Tourism Foundation.

"I'm lonely — let's go on a date beneath Uisangdae."

Naksansa temple buzzed with young singles hoping to find a match, as the mountain temple and the night sea stirred the emotions of those who gathered there.

The event drew on the spirit of the hit TV dating show "Naneun Solo" ("I Am Solo"), but its name was "Naneun Jeolro (Naksansa)" — a wordplay title meaning roughly "It Happens Naturally at the Temple." Held Saturday and Sunday, the two-day event was organized by the Gangwon Tourism Foundation and the Social Welfare Foundation of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism as a live romance program guiding participants through the process of forging new connections with a potential partner.

"Naneun Jeolro" — you just might fall for someone naturally.
"Naneun Jeolro" — you just might fall for someone naturally.

A total of 4,225 people applied for the event, from whom 10 couples were selected. Of those, five couples, or 50 percent, went on to form lasting connections, generating considerable buzz.

Set within the grounds of Naksansa, which overlooks the East Sea, the event had participants get to know each other over one-on-one tea sessions and share yoga and meditation with the blue coastline as a backdrop, filling the mountain temple with the fresh excitement of new encounters.

A monk flashes a heart gesture at the "Naneun Jeolro" event.
A monk flashes a heart gesture at the "Naneun Jeolro" event.

The Gangwon Tourism Foundation drew wide attention from the planning stage by weaving together Naksansa's pristine temple culture, its scenic beauty, and beachside yoga and meditation into a fresh concept it called a "temple blind date." The event earned high praise for introducing a romantic temple stay experience available only in Gangwon Province.


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