Korea’s ‘insane’ new dating trend: Airdropping photos in bars

Social media videos have been discussing the novel new way to date in Korea which involves people airdropping their photos to everyone in a bar.

Those interested in the person in the photos — which often contain details such as their Instagram handle — can then approach this person directly.

TikToker Steph Ahn (@stephanieahn) said: “I just found out the number one way people in Korea are meeting their potential partners and it’s absolutely insane.”

“Koreans are going to a bar, turning their AirDrop on and sending their photos to every single person in that bar that has their AirDrop on. Then, while they are drinking, they wait for people to come up to them that liked their photo and think that they look like their ideal type.”

AirDrop allows Apple users to wirelessly send photos and videos to nearby devices which have been enabled to receive such information. As it is Apple’s technology, Samsung does not have AirDrop.

Ahn mentioned that in Korea there are specific bars which are made for people to meet, a major reason why the trend would work in Korea.

“I feel like in North America it is just way too unsafe, there’s so many creeps, so this would just never work,” she said.

“If you’re looking for a Korean boyfriend, everyone needs to go to Korea and start doing this because this is honestly genius.”

Confirming the trend, Seoul-based TikToker Joy (@annabellejoy11) stitched Ahn’s video and said in reply: “I just saw this creator’s video and thought I’d add my two cents on the Korean dating scene.”

“Like this creator said, there is this new way of meeting people where you just AirDrop your photos to everyone at the bar and whoever likes your photos will come find you.”

In another video discussing the new trend, available on the “Excited Instead” account (@sullemee), three women at a bar discuss this technique.

One asks: “What’s the new ‘hunting’ trend these days?” in reference to starting a conversation with a man.

Another replies: “These days people use AirDrop. They attach their Instagram ID and their pictures, and then send them” to everyone with the function enabled.

“You get to choose who you like the most from the list of people who have sent you the AirDrop.”

Her friend then replied that “I should make sure to keep my phone on” so she can check her AirDrop.

BY TREVOR TREHARNE [trevortreharne@joongang.co.kr]