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Dating and Relationships in Switzerland vs Korea: What’s Different?

Dating and Relationships in Switzerland vs Korea: What’s Different?

If you grow up in Switzerland, your idea of dating and relationships is shaped by:

  • meeting people through friends, work or dating apps

  • taking your time to define the relationship

  • often living together before marriage

In South Korea, dating looks familiar in some ways (coffee, dinner, Instagram, DMs) – but the rules, expectations and timeline can feel very different.

This guide compares how dating and relationships work in Switzerland vs Korea, especially for young adults, so you know what to expect if you date across cultures.

Important: These are general trends, not strict rules. Every person and couple is different.

1. How People Meet: Apps vs “Sogaeting”

Switzerland: Apps, social circles and co-workers

In Switzerland, people typically meet:

  • through friends and hobbies

  • at school, university or work

  • increasingly via dating apps, which have become a major way for couples to form in recent years

Mixed or “binational” couples (Swiss + non-Swiss) are common, and the share of marriages involving a foreign partner has risen over time.

Korea: Blind dates and introductions still matter a lot

In Korea, apps exist too, but one of the most common ways to meet a partner is still 소개팅 (sogaeting) – a blind date arranged by friends, colleagues or matchmakers. 

Often:

  • a mutual friend plays matchmaker

  • you meet in a café or casual restaurant

  • the vibe is half “date”, half “job interview” – polite, slightly formal

There is also 선 (seon) – a more traditional, family-influenced introduction with a clear intention of marriage rather than casual dating. 

Big contrast:

  • Switzerland → more individual and app-based.

  • Korea → more network and introduction-based, with strong social structure around dating.

2. The Early Stage: “Talking”, “Some” and Defining the Relationship

Switzerland: Slow and flexible

In Switzerland, early dating is often:

  • casual and not heavily defined

  • you may go on multiple dates over weeks or months

  • some people date more than one person at the same time before becoming exclusive

It’s common to take your time before putting a clear label like “in a relationship” or “girlfriend/boyfriend”.

Korea: “Sseom” (Some) and clearer steps

In Korea there is a well-known concept called 썸 (sseom) – the “some” or “talking” stage:

  • you’re not officially a couple yet

  • you’re usually only talking to one person

  • there is more frequent daily contact (KakaoTalk, texts, calls)

Articles on Korean dating describe how this stage is often short and structured – sometimes with a “three-date rule” and pressure not to let the sseom drag on too long before deciding to become an official couple.

Once you agree to date officially, you may quickly:

  • use words like “boyfriend/girlfriend”

  • start celebrating couple “anniversaries” (100 days, 1 year, etc.)

In short:

  • Switzerland → more open-ended, grey zone can last longer.

  • Korea → clearer steps from “some” → “official couple”.

3. Communication Style: Messaging Frequency & PDA

Switzerland: More independence and space

Swiss culture tends to value:

  • personal space

  • clear boundaries between work/study time and private life

  • independence, even in relationships

Texting once or a few times a day can be normal, and long gaps don’t automatically mean something is wrong. Public displays of affection (PDA) like hugging or kissing in public are widely accepted in most cities.

Korea: Constant contact, but less PDA

Many Korean couples:

  • message each other very frequently (good morning, meals, good night, etc.)

  • may feel worried if the other person doesn’t respond for a long time

  • use couple profile pictures, matching phone cases or clothes as signs of commitment

At the same time, public displays of affection are still more conservative than in many European countries:

  • holding hands or linking arms is common

  • more intense PDA (long kisses, hugging a lot in public) can still attract negative looks, especially among older generations and in conservative areas

So you get this combination:

Very close in private (and on the phone), more reserved in public.

4. Who Pays on Dates and Gender Expectations

Switzerland: Splitting the bill is normal

In Switzerland:

  • it’s common for people to split the bill, especially after the first few dates

  • many women expect financial equality, and “the man must always pay” is less typical

  • who pays is often negotiated casually: “Shall we split?”, “I got this one, you take the next.”

Korea: Man often pays at the start (but this is changing)

In Korea, guides on dating etiquette note that:

  • men often feel responsible for paying on the first date or first few dates

  • later on, couples may “share” more by taking turns paying for different things (meal vs coffee vs movie), but not necessarily splitting every bill 50/50

Social expectations around traditional gender roles are changing, but there is still more pressure on men to:

  • have a stable job

  • be financially ready for marriage

  • lead the paying and planning in early dating

Summary:

  • Switzerland → more financial symmetry from the start.

  • Korea → more traditional expectations, but slowly modernising.

5. Relationship Progression: Cohabitation and Marriage

Switzerland: Living together before marriage is standard

In Switzerland, statistics and research show that:

  • cohabitation has become the norm for new couples – one study found nearly 9 in 10 newly formed couples live together without being married 

  • many couples see living together as a normal step before marriage, or a long-term alternative to it

  • it’s common to live together, build a life, maybe even have children, and marry later (or not at all)

Marriage still matters, but it’s often about legal and financial organisation, not the starting point of adult life.

Korea: Cohabitation still more sensitive, marriage under pressure

In Korea:

  • cohabitation before marriage is increasing among younger people in big cities, but still faces more social and family resistance than in Switzerland

  • conservative views – especially from older generations – can make living together before marriage feel taboo or something you “hide” from parents

Both countries now have relatively late average ages at first marriage (women generally over 30), linked to education and career focus. Some data ranks South Korea and Switzerland close together in terms of late marriage ages for women. 

In Korea, serious relationships often come with:

  • stronger pressure to marry by a certain age

  • more discussion about financial readiness (housing, wedding costs, future children)

  • links to broader issues like low birthrate and government policies encouraging marriage

Net effect:

  • Switzerland → more flexible paths (cohabitation, marriage later, or staying unmarried).

  • Korea → dating is often more connected to long-term marriage expectations and social timelines.

6. Role of Family and Society

Switzerland: Family opinion matters, but you decide

In Switzerland:

  • parents and family may have opinions, but it’s broadly accepted that you choose your partner

  • mixed-nationality or intercultural couples are common, and many families adapt over time

  • there is social pressure in some communities, but generally individual choice is strong

Korea: Family expectations are stronger

In Korea, family can be more involved in:

  • how you meet someone (family-arranged introductions, 선 / seon)

  • when you should marry (“after 30”, “before 35”, etc.)

  • who you marry (education level, job, sometimes even region or family background) 

This doesn’t mean everyone follows their parents’ wishes, but:

  • rejecting family expectations can be emotionally and practically difficult

  • some relationships end because of parental disapproval or incompatible long-term plans

If you’re Swiss dating a Korean partner, you may feel:

“We are not just two people, we are two people plus two families, two sets of expectations, and two cultures.”

7. Which Culture Might Fit You Better?

There is no “better” or “worse”, but the fit can be different depending on your personality.

You might feel more comfortable with the Swiss style if you like:

  • independence and personal space

  • slower, flexible relationship definitions

  • cohabitation without immediate marriage pressure

  • equal financial expectations between partners

You might feel drawn to the Korean style if you like:

  • clear stages (talking → couple → anniversaries)

  • frequent texting and daily emotional connection

  • romantic rituals (couple items, 100-day celebrations)

  • relationships that are strongly oriented toward long-term commitment

Of course, many cross-cultural couples mix both:

  • Swiss-style equality and independence

  • Korean-style effort, communication and “we are a team” feeling

The key is to talk openly about expectations:

  • How often do we want to text?

  • When do we define the relationship?

  • What about paying, cohabitation, and marriage timeline?

  • How much will family be involved?

Final Thoughts: Same Feelings, Different Frameworks

At the end of the day, people in both Switzerland and Korea want similar things:

  • to be loved

  • to feel respected

  • to build a meaningful life with someone

The feelings are the same – but the framework around dating and relationships is different:

  • how you meet

  • how fast things move

  • how visible the relationship is to family and society

  • how much pressure there is around marriage and roles

If you understand these differences, you’ll have:

  • fewer misunderstandings

  • more empathy for your partner’s background

  • a better chance to build a healthy cross-cultural relationship