Understanding Kdrama: Blind Dates Of All Kinds

Kdramas are full of funny blind dates but maybe one of the funniest takes place in the comedy "I Do I Do," when Park Gun Hyung demonstrates his technique for discouraging the blind dates his parents arrange. He convinces his dates he is a mama's boy by talking nonstop about his mom and then if that fails, he always takes out his mascara. That usually scares women away but in this case he has met his match in Kim Sun Ah, a woman who also has no interest in blind dates.

It's not the only incident of kdrama characters trying to get out of blind dates arranged by their parents. In "Coffee Prince," Gong Yoo uses Yoon Eun Hye, who he thinks is a boy, to make potential blind dates think he's gay.

Why go on blind dates if you are not interested in finding a mate? In Korea, it may be a matter of social pressure, your parents, your friends, even your boss, encouraging you to find that special person you are destined to marry. And there are several kinds of blind dates in Korea.

On blind dates known as "sogaeting," couples meet one-on-one after being connected by friends. If they like each other, they will date again. It's a common way of meeting for younger Koreans, especially students.

Group blind dates bring groups of friends together for what is called a "meeting." If two people like each other, they may meet again on their own.

It has become increasingly common for Korean banks, corporations and public enterprises to set up such meetings with their employees and it's not considered as meddlesome as it might be in some other countries.

When you get older, say near 30, your parents may try to hurry the process along by matchmaking you with a partner that has a comparable if not better station in life. Such matchmaking is dating with a view toward marriage and it's a more formal kind of dating, which may involve parents, grandparents or even a matchmaking service.  In "I Hear Your Voice" Lee Bo Young's mother is trying to set her up on a blind date with a perfectly compatible man, a lawyer she already works with.

Among the wealthy, matchmaking may be contracted with the idea of merging or improving a business. For example, in "Secret Garden," Hyun Bin, the president of a department store, considers his marriage partners based on their social and economic standing, so his blind dates are really more like job interviews.  In "My Lovely Kim Sam Soon" Hyun Bin has his equally boring matchmaking dates fortunately interrupted by Kim Sun Ah's outbursts.

Blind dates in Korea are generally a good deal for women. If you don't like the man you meet, you never have to see him again. Also, someone has vouched for his character before you even meet.

And blind dates are a great improvement over the tradition of having your future spouse decided by your parents or grandparents.

Do you have a favorite blind date scene?