No Broken Hearts at Proposal Wall
By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter
Proposing a marriage to someone should be one of the most mind-blowing experiences for a man or a woman, but where should you ask him or her? Many people tend to try fancy restaurants or hold costly events, but these days, Seoul citizens think of the ``Proposal Wall'' along Cheonggye Stream.
The place has rapidly become a hot spot for people in love, who want something unique but not too flashy.
``I was lonely for so long. I thought being single was just a natural thing. But then you came into my life and I got scared that you would run away. We moved in together but only after three years have I realized that I never asked you for marriage,'' said 46-year-old Kwon who on his bended knee asked for his partner's hand in marriage at the site. ``I know I am late, but I ask you: Will you marry me and stay with me as my wife forever?'' Her answer was, ``Yes."
Proposal Wall had its one-year-anniversary Thursday. Up tol Wednesday, 119 couples had popped the question and all of their counterparts said, ``Yes.'' Five of them are already married and 102 others are planning marriage. The others were already-married couples re-taking their vows.
The couples share their precious moments with friends participating in the event and passers-by who cheered the news.
On Wednesday, Christmas Eve, four couples took the plunge at the site. At 7:30 p.m., Yang Seong-woo gave flowers to his girlfriend, singing a proposal song with a backing choir. When she said, ``Yes," the two hung a small lock on the wall, vowing eternal love. They got in a limousine and drove off to a place that is special to both of them.
But it is not only girlfriends and boyfriends who share such moments, with already-married couples also reconfirming their love.
Thirty-nine-year-old Kim poured out her heart to her husband of six years.
``You are a Pakistani. It was freezing winter when I first met you, a migrant worker at Ilsan. Some people said we are too different and we don't belong together, but I knew that you were always there for me with love. It has been six years since we have gotten married. I know this is not an usual thing for a woman to do and I know we are already in love, but I want to tell you that I love you even more and forever,'' she said on Christmas Eve.
Anyone can participate in the romantic event by logging onto propose.seoul.go.kr and making a reservation, where a video or image file can be submitted and projected on the wall. The event is available from Thursday through Saturday after sunset.