Couples Seek Frugal Dates Amid Economic Downturn
By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter
This year's Valentine's Day came and went with less attention than usual, as it fell on Lunar New Year's Day.
But men here have another big day to be concerned with: White Day, which falls on March 14, when they are supposed to give candy to their lovers (to reciprocate a Valentine's Day gift) or to confess their love to someone they admire.
A gift, some flowers and dinner at a fancy restaurant may cost them hundreds of thousands won, which can be burdensome in an economic downturn.
Then, how about an untraditional, economical date to celebrate the tradition?
An increasing number of couples here have begun signing up for cooking classes that major department stores and giant supermarket chains are offering.
Fun, Frugal Date
A 30-year-old office worker identified by her surname Cho decided to try something different with her boyfriend on Valentine's Day.
What she chose over an opulent restaurant was a small caf? in Seoul where the couple could bake a chocolate cake together.
"We both were clumsy at preparing the ingredients and baking but we enjoyed making something together," she said. "I think I like him more after seeing him trying so hard to learn something."
All the ingredients were prepared ahead of time, so they had no difficulty in giving it a try, she added.
In addition to the chance to bond, the couple found it a cheap alternative to going out to a fancy place.
"It only cost 50,000 won (about $44) to learn to bake the cake and bring it home," Cho said. "Given that we usually spend more than 100,000 won on a date, I think we had a frugal but great date."
For the upcoming White Day, the couple plans to take another cooking class.
"I already signed up for a one-day course titled `cooking date for couples' on that day," she said. "I am so excited about the event. And I would like to take a months-long course with my boyfriend, if possible. I think we can save money and time but have as much fun as we used to have when going out on dates."
Various Classes for Couples
It is not difficult to find places offering one-day classes for the upcoming White Day.
L'ecole douce, a baking school and cafe located in Seorae Village in southern Seoul, will hold a special class in which people can bake delectable items from March 5 to 12.
Shinsegae Department Store's Cultural Center will offer a class to bake a classic chocolate cake with vanilla-flavored whipped cream, on White Day. It only costs 40,000 won for a couple and participants can take what they make home.
If baking is not your thing, you need not worry.
The culture center will also present various classes, including one to make couple rings and necklaces from March 6 to 13.
Additionally, a couple can learn stretching and massage techniques in another class.
Culture centers at department stores used to target housewives and offer such classes as quilting and painting.
But courses for couples have been on the rise recently as more are seeking dates in a cheaper and more fun way.
Economic Downturn
The local economic downturn appears to be especially harsh for those born between 1970 and 1990, many of whom enjoy a fuller life than their parents had.
According to government statistics, the unemployment ratio of young people aged between 15 and 29 reached 9.3 percent as some 400,000 young people, up 90,000 from last December, failed to find a job.
An official of the Ministry of Labor said, requesting anonymity, that the number of young jobless increased last month as many young people had began their job search after graduating from school.
Statistics show that, on average, couples spent 130,540 won per date last year. Back in 1974, couples spent only 4,260 won per date on average.
The economic predicament also caused young couples to feel burdened about preparing gifts on Valentine's Day.
In a survey conducted by local online shopping mall Gmarket, 87 percent of the 3,391 respondents said they did not feel comfortable about buying presents for their lovers because of financial difficulties.
Office worker Cho admitted that her primary reason for choosing the baking class was related to money issues.
"It is true that we cannot spend hundreds of thousands won on dates as we used to do. I enjoy this new kind of experience with my boyfriend but I hope the economy will recover soon so that we can have a traditional date again," Cho said.