"Cross-Border Romance Power: The New Trend in 'Matching' Shown by Japan-Korea Marriage Events"

Table of Contents

1. Introduction: Why "Korean Wave Dating" is Hot Right Now

2. Field Report: Sneaking into the Latest Event in Omotesando

3. Understanding the Surge in Japan-Korea Couples through Statistics

4. Japanese Women × Korean Men—Attractions and Gaps

5. Real Stories of Successful Couples

6. Learning from Failures: Coping with Culture Shock

7. Policies and Systems Supporting International Dating

8. Comparison with Similar Cases Overseas

9. Future Outlook: Where is Cross-Border Romance Heading?

10. Conclusion

1. Introduction: Why "Korean Wave Dating" is Hot Right Now

As of July 2025, over 50 Japan-Korea matching events are announced monthly in Tokyo and Osaka alone. The combination of Japanese women × Korean men is particularly popular, often filling up within 10 minutes of opening. According to data from the event search site "Omikare," page views related to these events increased by 57% in the first half of this year compared to the same period last year.party-calendar.net

The background includes the penetration of Korean entertainment since the late 2000s, but in the 2020s, online interactions accelerated due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the Korean government has strengthened municipality-led marriage support as a measure against low birth rates, expanding subsidies for international marriages.wsj.com

2. Field Report: Sneaking into the Latest Event in Omotesando

On the night of July 12, a "Korean Wave Dating" event was held at a rented restaurant in Omotesando, attended by 35 Japanese women aged 20-35 and 35 Korean men. The venue featured K-POP BGM and a buffet of Korean fusion cuisine. Bilingual staff facilitated self-introductions, and many participants used translation apps.

During the free time in the latter half, many Japanese women were seen initiating conversations in Korean with "Annyeonghaseyo!" while the men responded in polite Japanese. Even without confidence in language skills, shared fandoms (such as BTS and NCT) served as conversational lubricants. Post-party surveys indicated that 68% felt a "connection" and 44% "made plans for a next date."machicon.jp

3. Understanding the Surge in Japan-Korea Couples through Statistics

According to the Korean Statistical Office, marriages between Korean men and Japanese women in 2024 amounted to 1,176, an increase of about 40% from the previous year.mainichi.jpameblo.jp
Including domestic registrations in Japan, the actual number is estimated to exceed 1,300. The main reasons are as follows:

• Cultural Affinity: Lower barriers compared to Western marriages, such as food culture and Kanji vocabulary

• Relative Economic and Educational Similarity: Similar average income and educational distribution make household planning easier

• Media Influence: Favorable images cultivated through dramas and music
  
  
  

On the other hand, while the overall number of marriages in Korea is declining, international marriages are increasing, likely due to government subsidy programs.wsj.com

4. Japanese Women × Korean Men—Attractions and Gaps

Attraction Points

1. Proactive Leadership and Emotional Expression: The culture of clear steps like confessing "let's date" and 100-day anniversaries provides reassurance

2. Family Orientation: The "Yori" culture of valuing both parents aligns with the family-oriented nature of Japanese women

3. Beauty and Fashion Consciousness: Many men pay attention to skincare and clothing

Gap and Risk

• Military Service Obligation: Cases of being apart for about a year and a half during dating to marriage, requiring long-distance resilience

• Handling of Surnames: In Korea, separate surnames are common, while in Japan, name change procedures may be necessary

• Difference in Emotional Expression: Discrepancies can arise between surprise-focused Korea and modesty-valuing Japan
  
  

Event organizers state that "explaining gaps in advance increases the success rate of marriages."party-calendar.net

5. Real Stories of Successful Couples

R-san (32) from Tokyo and K-san (33) from Seoul met at an online dating event in 2023, dated for a year, and married in the fall of 2024. They currently live in Tokyo, working together while continuing weekly language exchanges in Korean and Japanese.

"Expressing love in each other's native language allows us to respect each other's culture" (R-san)
"Learning Japan's 'reading the air' culture has reduced conflicts" (K-san)

They utilize dual currency accounts in yen and won for their household, with plans to purchase a second house in Seoul in the future.

6. Learning from Failures: Coping with Culture Shock

Common failure examples include issues with "communication frequency" and "family events." In Korea, it's normal for couples to send dozens of messages daily, but the Japanese side may find it "overbearing." Additionally, obligations to return home during long holidays like Lunar New Year and Chuseok often clash with Japanese corporate schedules.

Countermeasures

• Align communication expectations early in the relationship

• Share long holiday plans before visa applications and adjust paid leave

• Manage both countries' holidays with a shared calendar

7. Policies and Systems Supporting International Dating

The Korean government aims to restore the birth rate to 1.0 by 2025, offering international marriage couples housing subsidies worth up to approximately $20,000. On the Japanese side, the "Specified Activity Visa" marriage procedure requirements were partially relaxed in 2023, shortening the waiting period for obtaining a spouse visa to a minimum of three months. This has effectively reduced the "dating cost" for cross-border couples.wsj.com

8. Comparison with Similar Cases Overseas

In China, family-led approaches like parents displaying children's profiles in the "marriage market" are mainstream, while in Western countries, self-determination is common. Japan and Korea are positioned in the middle, where participants are the main actors but parental approval is also valued.thescottishsun.co.uk

9. Future Outlook: Where is Cross-Border Romance Heading?

• Deepening of Online Interaction: AI translation and metaverse dating further reduce distance barriers

• Change in Gender Balance: While Korean men's marriage intentions are high, it is predicted that the popularity of Korean women among Japanese men will also increase after 2026

• Regional Dispersion: Expanding from metropolitan areas to regional cities, with tour-type events combining tourism and dating becoming mainstream

10. Conclusion

Japan-Korea dating events are evolving into a new "love tech" industry that supports everything from light interest sparked by K-POP to actual marriage in a one-stop manner. Cultural affinity and institutional support are synergizing, and the market is expected to continue expanding. However, challenges such as long-distance and family cultural differences remain, making information gathering and mutual understanding key to success.

List of Reference Articles

• Korean Statistical Office "2024 Marriage and Divorce Statistics" (Released March 20, 2025)mainichi.jp

• The Korea Herald "Marriages between Korean men and Japanese women soar" (2023)koreaherald.com

• Omikare "Korean Wave Dating [Korean Men × Japanese Women]" Event Page (Viewed on July 1, 2025)party-calendar.net

• machicon JAPAN "Korean Wave Dating☆Japan-Korea Exchange Party" (Held April 26, 2025)machicon.jp

• Chosun Ilbo Japanese Edition "International Marriages Between Japanese Women and Korean Men Increase by 40% Year-on-Year to 1,176 Couples" (March 2025)ameblo.jp

• The Wall Street Journal "Even a $14,000 Government Handout Can’t Get South Korea’s Singles to Marry" (2025)wsj.com##