The first baby has been born through 'I Am Solo,' a matchmaking program for single men and women hosted by the Buddhist community.

According to the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism Social Welfare Foundation on July 17, a couple in their 30s who met through the program welcomed a healthy son yesterday.

The couple participated in the 'I Am Solo' event held at Naksansa Temple in Yangyang, Gangwon Province, in August 2024 as 'Gyeonu No. 5' and 'Jiknyeo No. 8.' They became a final couple and were married in October of the following year.

This marks the first time a birth has resulted from the program since it began in November 2023.

'I Am Solo,' which combines temple stays with matchmaking, was designed to provide natural meeting opportunities for single men and women, help foster positive views on marriage, and address the low birth rate, a major challenge in our society.

It is a revamped version of the 'Meeting Temple Stay' program that the Jogye Order has operated since 2013, updated with a new name and format to suit modern trends. It is open not only to Buddhists but also to young people of other faiths or no religious affiliation.

The most recent event at Naksansa Temple, held on July 11 – 12, saw a record-high application rate of 211 to 1, establishing the program as one of the Buddhist community's biggest hit products.

The couple matching rate is also high; about half of the participants became final couples last year. This year, in three 'I Am Solo' events held at Seonunsa (20 participants), Donghwasa (24 participants), and Naksansa (20 participants), 6, 8, and 5 couples were formed, respectively.

The Jogye Order reported that three couples have already married, another couple is set to marry in October, and there are 5 to 6 other couples currently discussing marriage.

Yoo Cheol-ju, a planning and public relations specialist at the Jogye Order Social Welfare Foundation, said, "As 'I Am Solo' is a project to overcome the low birth rate, the birth of the first baby is more joyful and welcome than anything else," adding, "The foundation plans to deliver a congratulatory gift for the birth."

(Photo: Yonhap News)