Best Dating Apps – How to Meet People in Korea

Last updated on December 5, 2018

What’s online dating like in a country where couples galore? After talking with Koreans and foreigners in Seoul, here are the five best dating apps in Korea. Take a look!

1 of 5

The App: Amanda

The Pitch: The Korean catchphrase (아무나 만나지 않는 당신을 위한 소개팅), which roughly translates to “Because you don’t meet just anyone,” is an acronym for the app’s name (아만다).

What we think: You’ll get rated on your appearance to join the app, which will be a confidence booster for some and a put-down for others. When both you and the other person “like” each other, you then have the option to chat. On Amanda, it’s fairly easy to meet people from different backgrounds or people who wouldn’t cross paths with you in real life. 

Note: You might get kicked out if you don’t look Korean, which is what happened to my Danish friend.

The app sent her a text saying they “withdrew her account because Amanda is currently unavailable to foreigners.”

2 of 5

The App: Tinder

The Pitch: “Swipe. Match. Chat.”

What we think: We’re all too familiar with this one. In Korea, it’s a mix of a dating app and a casual sex app. Several years ago, Tinder users in Korea were mostly foreigners.  More Koreans have gotten on board now, though you’ll see more gyopos, international students and foreigners on Tinder than on the other apps. With BIGBANG‘s Seungri as the new face of the app, Tinder is ready to get bigger in Korea.

Note: Tinder is also available in North Korea.

3 of 5

The App: HelloTalk

The Pitch: “Talk to the world.”

What we think: Did you know that language learning apps could turn into the best dating apps abroad? Plenty of people started dating after meeting on HelloTalk, the self-proclaimed world’s biggest language exchange app. On the upside, it’s cool to already have established a common interest of language learning with your date. On the downside, not everyone on HelloTalk is looking for a potential significant other.

Note: When you strike up a conversation, bring an interesting topic to the table like something you read or saw on their bio or feed, instead of the banal and easily ignored greetings.

4 of 5

The App: Meeff

The Pitch: “Keep calm and meet foreign friends.”

What we think: This language app focuses on connecting people learning Korean to native Koreans. Meeff has a smaller pool of people than HelloTalk, though a bigger percentage of Korean speakers.

5 of 5

The App: Sky People

The Pitch: “A dating app made by a Seoul National University student.”

What we think: In Korea, a good school or workplace opens many doors, including a door to join Sky People. Male users must verify their alma mater (SKY or equivalent) or workplace (large conglomerate companies only) through an email address. The verification process is simpler for women, who must be a working professional or a student between the ages of 20 and 39. For men, the age bracket is from 20 to 43.

Sky People probably started under the assumption that women value men’s job prospects more than men value women’s. Give this a go if that’s your thing.

Have you tried any of these? What are the best dating apps you’ve used? Please comment below!

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