She got docked major points in one particular category.
WJSN (Cosmic Girls)’s Seola received an unexpectedly blunt reality check after learning how she would be evaluated by a professional matchmaking agency.
The idol, now in her 30s after more than a decade in the entertainment industry, recently visited a marriage information agency for the first episode of the YouTube series “What Are You Doing To Eat?” Wearing a wedding dress, Seola headed to the agency in Gangnam for a one-on-one consultation, explaining that she wanted to find out exactly how a woman with her background would be viewed in the matchmaking market.
I came here to see what kind of response a woman with qualifications like mine would get.
— Seola
The matchmaking consultant explained that agencies typically consider factors such as age, appearance, income, education, and family background when assessing potential clients. For the purposes of the broadcast, Seola was then given scores in each category. Unsurprisingly, her visuals caused little debate. The consultant gave Seola a perfect 5 out of 5 for appearance, saying there was essentially “no need to even discuss” that category.
Her financial situation also earned a strong score of 4 out of 5. Despite reportedly receiving her first major entertainment-industry settlements relatively late into her career, Seola had consistently saved money, leaving her with an impressive level of assets for someone in her 30s. She also received 4 points for age and 4 points for family background.
Education, however, was a very different story. Seola received just 1 point because her formal education ended after high school. She jokingly explained that she had been so focused on music that she essentially “quit school,” laughing off the particularly brutal score.
After all of the categories were taken into consideration, Seola received an overall “B rating.”
The consultation also revealed some of the realities behind Korea’s professional matchmaking industry. According to the consultant, one of the first requirements frequently given by male clients is that a potential partner be 34 years old or younger, largely because of concerns surrounding childbirth. Once a woman passes 35, the consultant explained, matchmaking conditions can change significantly.
The agency also discussed its pricing system. Standard membership reportedly ranges from ₩3.00 million KRW (about $2,120 USD) to ₩5.00 million KRW (about $3,530 USD), while clients seeking highly specific partners or premium personalized matchmaking can pay more than ₩10.0 million KRW (about $7,060 USD). Agencies also verify original documents, including marriage records, family relationship certificates, and graduation certificates, in order to prevent issues such as married people falsely presenting themselves as single.
But after all the scores, rankings, and matchmaking criteria, Seola’s most revealing comments came once the consultation was over. While eating with the production staff afterward, Seola opened up about her own feelings toward marriage and having children. She admitted that she had rarely thought deeply about either.
I haven’t really thought very deeply about marriage or childbirth. Then I started wondering whether the fact that I haven’t thought about them seriously means that maybe I don’t truly want them.
— Seola
Her perspective, however, has started to shift after watching her older sister’s married life. Seola said seeing how happily her sister lives made her feel envious and reconsider what having a family could mean later in life.
When I see my sister living so happily after getting married, I feel jealous. I think when you get much older, having a family could become a huge source of strength and motivation. Since entering my 30s, I feel like I’ve gradually been losing some of that motivation in life. When you get married, it feels like a new stage of life begins.
— Seola
Watch the full video here: