<Welcome to the Marriage Introduction Agency> Is Real Marriage Possible? [11]

My mom was upset, wondering if things would lead to marriage.

My sister and brother-in-law, who had been celebrating my younger sibling's relationship and prematurely imagining a wedding, awkwardly offered their condolences.

She said she didn't want my sister dating someone with such apparent mental issues.

It was so serious that even my dad, who never interfered with my relationships, seemed to be watching my reaction.

“Everyone seems to be under a misconception, but I wasn't head over heels for that guy.

Of course, I enjoyed it. He treated me like a princess because he liked me.

Ah, I thought this might be a good relationship to explore, but things turned out like this.”

I wasn't sad; I was just dumbfounded and annoyed.

No, I was furious.

More than half a year later, the matchmaker revealed the true story behind the incident,

As expected, he had been told that his fortune reading was unfavorable, and that's why things ended the way they did.

She said that she hadn't been able to tell me the truth right away because she was worried I'd be too hurt.

Hearing that, I couldn't help but laugh for a long time.

Let's just say my ancestors were looking out for me. What if I had continued to date him and developed deeper feelings, only to have this happen?

Even when introduced by someone I trusted, someone so unbelievable could still appear.

“So, that’s why you’re here.”

“Yes, I figured it might be a good idea to just get introduced through a verified service instead.”

The woman with long, straight hair, who had been sitting across from me at a small table, listening to my story, let out a short sigh.

“You’ve really been through a lot.”

Why Did You Come Now?

Marriage introduction agencies, also known as matchmakers. It's a world still shrouded in mystery for many people.

Despite the significant demand, it's difficult to find clear reviews of this market, which is also facing challenges these days.

This is because an increasing number of young people are choosing to enjoy life as singles rather than struggling to find a partner and get married.

Nevertheless, many individuals yearn to step through the doors of these agencies in search of a partner but hesitate to make the final decision.

They feel a sense of self-reproach at having to pay for introductions,

and some experience a sense of resistance against disrupting the natural process of human connection.

Honestly, the biggest hurdle is the blow to one's pride.

In the winter, when I thought my 30s would be the end of my singlehood.

After a bewildering breakup, my biggest regret was that my dormant romantic feelings had just been rekindled, only to be extinguished once more.

Rather than begging my acquaintances to help me find someone and potentially creating awkward situations,

I felt it wouldn't be a bad idea to simply have a verified person introduced to me.

I had made up my mind, but where should I go?

There were surprisingly many marriage introduction agencies in Korea.

From large-scale companies with ubiquitous advertisements to smaller, niche agencies.

I delved into the usual ‘matchmaker reviews’ to figure out where to go, spending a considerable amount of time searching.

For women, age is everything, and for men, it's their career and financial status. It's not a bad idea to go before it's too late.

If you're not prepared to have your mental fortitude tested, I wouldn't recommend it.

If you have a good grasp of your own worth, you'll be fine.

Instead of wasting money on this, just join a club or something.

The recommendations and disapprovals were split 50/50, and most were just promotional posts, making it hard to find truly unbiased reviews.

However, I did arrive at one conclusion: a larger member base would mean I'd be more likely to meet average people.

I ruled out the large agencies favored by those in their early 20s and 30s. I had a feeling it would just end up with me getting hurt.

I booked an appointment with a large agency that primarily served those in their 30s and 40s, one that caught my eye.

As I entered the office, a uniformed staff member checked my reservation and guided me to a small consultation room.

“Please wait a moment.”

I fidgeted with the warm mug in front of me, taking in the consultation room. It was clean, quiet, and unremarkable.

While pondering how to avoid being swayed by them and secure a reasonable membership fee,

the consultation manager entered with a cheerful greeting. She was a kind-looking woman with a pleasant smile.

“How did you hear about us?”

She seemed most curious about my reasons for joining and why I chose this particular agency.

I decided to streamline my rather lengthy story of romantic misadventures into a condensed version,

and the consultation manager listened intently, offering empathetic interjections and showing genuine understanding as if it were her own sister's tale.

It seemed their role was to foster a sense of closeness, turning the consultation into a sort of confidential advice session.

One comment that stood out was, “You’ve been incredibly unlucky.”

She attributed my string of unsuccessful relationships and encounters with questionable individuals simply to bad luck.

It wasn't because I was flawed or had done anything wrong; it was just that I'd had a terrible run of luck. That statement resonated deeply with me.

I wasn't there to ponder whether or not to join.

I had already made my decision and was simply exploring which service to use. Sensing this, the consultation manager became even more serious.

“Why did you wait so long? You should have come sooner.”

I chuckled at that, but the truth is, I had actually joined a matchmaking service when I was 27 or 28.

There were rumors that a list of female university graduates had been sold to marriage introduction agencies, and I was surprised to receive a call.

The offer was quite tempting and promising, so I discussed it with my mother and signed up, but it turned out to be a scam.

The agency didn't fulfill its promised number of introductions, things fizzled out, and eventually, they stopped answering my calls.

Looking back, I suspect the people they presented weren't even actual members, but rather part-time workers.

I learned my lesson the hard way and vowed never to fall for such deceptive tactics again.

So, the suggestion that I would have found a good partner sooner if I had joined earlier was simply untrue.

The application form didn't require any overly detailed information; it was mostly basic personal details with added economic aspects.

I had to disclose my current assets, approximately, and whether my parents were financially prepared for retirement.

Then, the consultation moved on to discussing the kind of man I was looking for.

I said I was not religious, preferred someone who lived nearby, and wanted a partner within six years of my age.

I also mentioned that I'd prefer a regular employee to someone self-employed or a freelancer.

The consultation manager clapped her hands in delight at my responses.

She explained that most women in their late 30s and 40s, the so-called ‘gold miss’ demographic, had extremely high standards, making it challenging to find matches.

She said that someone like me, with average criteria in all areas, was incredibly easy to match.

In simpler terms, it meant I was being realistic.

What appealed to me about this agency was that no one but the manager could view the profiles.

I'd had unpleasant experiences in the past where seeing photos first led to strong biases, so

I wanted to meet the individuals face-to-face for a genuine blind date, if possible.

After careful consideration, I opted for the ‘introduction count’ package.

I signed the contract and received a statement that would serve as a powerful motivator to get back to work.

After submitting documents like a certificate of employment and a graduation certificate to verify my identity, the review team would check for any issues,

and then start the matchmaking process.

The die was cast. Who would I meet? Would I find someone special among them?

I felt a mix of excitement and apprehension.