On January 2, at the Sungkyunkwan Convention Wedding Hall in Seoul's Jongno District, speakers played nostalgic songs from the 1970s and 80s instead of the usual wedding march. The initial awkwardness melted away as a song-guessing game began, filling the room with laughter. Participants dressed in black school uniforms exchanged shy glances — a scene reminiscent of a college mixer.
The only difference was that these were unmarried men and women aged 65 and older who had gathered through Jongno District Office's "Good Life Challenge." Wearing name tags with self-chosen nicknames like "White Sugar," "Vitamin," and "Dalgona," they sat across from each other at tables decorated with rotary phones and glass vase flower arrangements, evoking 1970s-era Korean coffeehouses known as "dabang." Though their stories varied — some widowed, others divorced — they shared a common desire for meaningful conversation.
Participants broke the ice by sharing details about their daily lives, such as whether they lived with their children and what hobbies they enjoyed. One participant nicknamed "Kwaenam" introduced himself, saying he had graduated from law school and worked for many years, adding that he still travels frequently because he loves exploring new places. Beyond romantic connections, many naturally formed friendships with others from their neighborhood.
The senior participants unanimously agreed that the event brought new vitality to their lives. As people age, emotional isolation often becomes harder to bear than financial hardship. "When I'm alone, moments of loneliness suddenly creep in," said "MacGyver." "I'm happy to have found good people with whom I can openly share what's on my mind."
His partner "Nabobae" said she knew she had to attend after seeing a banner on the street. "I didn't make it in the first district lottery, but after some twists and turns, I finally got here — and I'm so glad I did." Of the 19 pairs who participated, seven couples were matched after mutual conversations identified each other as their ideal type.
The dedication of young volunteers who helped transform the seniors also reflected a cross-generational sincerity. University student volunteers assisted with makeup and hair styling before the event began, carefully addressing concerns unique to older participants, such as thinning hair and wrinkles. Lee Sang-hyuk, 21, a member of the "Midream" club at Jeonghwa Arts College, said, "Many were concerned about their hair volume, so I focused on adding volume to cover thin areas. I rarely get the chance to style seniors, and seeing how happy they were made it more rewarding than usual."
Experts say policies that help build social networks can be an efficient solution for reducing costs in an aging society. Park Seung-hee, professor emeritus of social welfare at Sungkyunkwan University, explained, "If material support helps seniors survive, community solidarity serves as a higher-level safety net that prevents social challenges like illness and lonely deaths. As emotional networks strengthen, they serve as a foundation for reducing overall welfare demand."
A Jongno District official emphasized, "Economic support is important, but addressing depression caused by loneliness is also key to preventing lonely deaths."