How and where to find Korean dating opportunities

The landscape of the Korean dating scene and culture has followed a similar trajectory to the growth of the Korean population in Britain in recent years. However, it does come with its own distinct challenges. Not living in or near London, where almost half of the 40,000 ethnically Korean people in Britain are located, can be an obstacle.

Korean immigration to the UK began in earnest after 1949 so there are also some dating culture differences between long-time Korean residents in the UK and newer expats, such as the differences in approach in British and Korean dating.

We explore these factors in more detail as well as the key differences between a Korean dating app and more generalised services as well as how to meet singles locally. Finally, we’ll look at why many Korean singles in the UK have turned to eharmony for our focus on curating highly compatible potential matches while still empowering you to take complete control of your dating journey.  

Korean dating culture in the UK

When it comes to the influence of the two countries on dating practices, there’s often a meeting and melding of cultures. 

A key contrast is how seriously the two cultures take dating. While Britain is known for its laid-back approach, Korean norms are more typified by ritual, etiquette and structure, generally dating with more purpose and having somewhat rigid rules in place for relationship milestones.

Differences in dating and relationship norms

A noticeable difference between British and Korean dating is the level of interaction. Koreans tend to view regular communication as the backbone of relationship building. So it’s not unusual for Korean couples to check up on each other several times a day and be quite upfront about their intentions and expectations in the relationship.

While this may suit many singles, it can have quite an impact on communication styles on a Korean dating website or other dating app. Singles in Korea are known to use specialised dating apps, often viewing more general services as too casual and may also need to communicate for longer before agreeing to meet up.

British vs Korean dating etiquette

Koreans tend to have a more structured notion of how two people go from dating to a full-fledged relationship. Things like gift-giving, 100-day anniversaries, declaring commitment early on and even the activities and emotions explored in each successive date are a big part of dating culture in the country, which aren’t as emphasised in Britain.

There are more subtle differences, such as popular date activities, the popularity of karaoke bars for dates, as well as date intimacy. A fun example of this is the Korean tendency to share food on dates and the popularity of couple’s holidays like White Day. 

How to meet Korean singles

The Korean population may not be as prominent as other ethnic communities in the UK but has grown hugely, tripling in size since 2001. New Malden in south-west London is considered a cultural centre , with many Korean businesses, markets, restaurants, karaoke bars and cafes.

Expats from Korea tend to favour London and England in general, with only small communities in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

A more specific pool of Korean dating prospects

The most common traits Koreans associate with Britain are history, vibrant culture and sports, according to research by Visit Britain¹. So beyond being a popular destination for students, the UK tends to attract more professionally focused Korean expats with higher-than-average incomes and education levels.

This is worth noting because it means more Koreans in the UK use a Korean dating site due to time constraints faced by many professionals.

Finding love on a dating site or Korean dating app in the UK

Many Koreans tend to find swiping dating apps a bit too casual and frivolous. However, there has been a growth in the popularity of more niche services such as exclusive dating apps for high-income singles and those focused on compatibility, like eharmony.

This makes sense as even the convenience and time-savings offered by dating apps can be offset by having to spend every night swiping through an unstructured and almost endless stream of all the singles in your area.    

Korean dating through eharmony

At eharmony, we take the view that singles know what they’re looking for and the type of people they’re attracted to. We also know that online dating can be a crowded place and you can only explore so many avenues.

So we like to combine the process of actively curating Korean singles on our platform that suit your dating goals and personality while still putting you in the driver’s seat of your relationship journey. eharmony filters let you focus your options based on factors like nationality, distance, age, religion, income level, education and shared interests.

Our Compatibility Matching System, refined by over 20 years in the industry, takes into account aspects of Korean dating you may either not have considered or aren’t discussed early in the dating process such as communication styles and how you organise your life, meaning we only match you with the most compatible singles.  

Other benefits of using eharmony for Korean dating

• A large and diverse member base of singles in the UK looking for authentic connections
• A safe platform to guarantee respectful and open-minded conversation thanks to regular database audits and highly responsive customer support services.
• A bigger selection of features than many other dating apps and detail-rich interactive profiles
• Key insights into your own personality and that may be affecting your relationships.

Find Korean online dating opportunities that fit you

With eharmony, you don’t have to move to London just to get in touch with Korean singles. Our reputation for success attracts relationship-seeking singles from all walks of life combined with our intelligent, psychological approach to connecting you.

Register for a free eharmony account today and see for yourself.