After saving up all of his annual leave, 32-year-old office worker Lee is heading on an 8-night, 9-day package tour to Paris and London during the upcoming Chuseok holiday. But this trip isn’t your average vacation. The package, open to those born between 1986 and 2005, is specifically targeted at people in their 20s and 30s, ensuring an equal number of men and women. It’s being billed as a “romantic package tour.”
The travel agency offering the trip even provides discounts for participants who don’t find a match. A second trip earns a 100,000-won discount, and by the third or subsequent trip, the savings increase to 200,000 won. Despite making light of his chances, Lee paid over 2.5 million won for the tour. “Blind dates feel too forced, and as a working adult, there aren’t many opportunities for natural encounters,” he said. “I’m determined to leave singlehood behind on this first trip.”
The agency’s website lists various European destinations, including confirmed departures to Spain, France, and Switzerland. Available spots are noted with phrases like “2 men, 2 women” or “4 men, 3 women,” signaling the gender-balanced nature of the trips.
Applicants are also asked to provide their MBTI personality types, which the agency says helps match participants with complementary personalities. Extroverts (“E”) and introverts (“I”), along with organized (“J”) and spontaneous (“P”) travelers, often have different approaches to traveling. The agency claims that this increases the likelihood of compatible pairings.
Unlike traditional group tours, these packages skip the crowded bus tours. Instead, participants explore in small groups during the day and only meet with the guide for select evening activities, such as night tours. This format gives younger travelers more freedom, appealing to those who want to mix relaxation with exploration. With no mandatory shopping stops or additional fees, the tours are relatively affordable, costing between 2 million and 3 million won for a 10-day European trip. Travelers can opt to visit tourist attractions or spend their time relaxing, such as lounging by a hotel pool.
Similar tours are available for people in their 40s, though the focus is more on making friends than finding romance. Reviews on travel agency websites include comments like, “I made 19 new friends on a trip to Spain,” and “Sharing experiences in a foreign place led to deep conversations.” Although some participants go with friends, most travel solo, with the budget-friendly packages often requiring participants to share a room with a stranger.
At night, the social energy ramps up as participants take part in drinking games at famous landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and the Colosseum. For those in their 20s, the experience evokes memories of college getaways, while those in their 30s and 40s get to relive their younger days. If sparks fly, some couples may take advantage of the free travel time to go on a private date.
With such trips growing in popularity, major travel agencies are introducing similar offerings aimed at younger travelers. C Travel, which operates over 60 international branches, recently launched a “30s Bucket List” package, while D Travel, which has 5,000 domestic outlets, is offering concept tours focused on shared interests such as tennis, soccer, whiskey, and trekking.
“Spending several days at a travel destination with people who have similar interests can lead to deeper connections than a typical one- or two-hour blind date,” said Koo Jeong-Woo, a sociology professor at Sungkyunkwan University.
