Participants eat Jajangmyeon, Chinese-style noodles topped with a thick sauce of black bean paste, at a speed eating competition on a Black Day for
love in South Korea on April 14, 2008.[Agencies]
It was a Black Day for love in South Korea yesterday with lonely hearts trying to ease their pain by diving head
first into bowls of noodles.
South Korea celebrates Valentine's Day, when local custom dictates women give gifts to men.
It has taken on a popular event born in Japan but sweeping Asia known as White Day on March 14, when men
return the favor with gifts for women.
But Black Day, on April 14, is a South Korean original day. It is marked by people who have not found love dressing in dark colors and commiserating over meals of black
food, with the dish of choice being Chinese-style noodles topped with a thick sauce of black bean paste.
"I had a miserable time on Valentine's Day, felt even lonelier on White Day and now I'm crying over a bowl
of black noodles," said a young woman who asked only to be identified by her family name Na out of embarrassment.
"Things better be different next year."
At universities across the country on Monday, students without lunch dates ordered black noodles, dined with
other lonely hearts and searched for companionship.
South Korea marketers have hatched special days on the 14th of each month to create a calendar laden with love.
Some days have gained traction such as Black Day, while others, such as Green Day in August, when couples are
supposed to drink cheap liquor that comes in green bottles and walk in the woods, have yet to attract much of a
following.
Black Day events have snowballed, with a major matchmaking service this year providing an evening of speed
dating where the dish of choice is sushi blackened by squid ink.
An on-line company for movie tickets sponsored a speed eating competition of black noodles for those who bought single
tickets for the latest films.
"It is depressing enough going to the movies by yourself," said Shin Youn-joo of the company called Max Movie.
"We just wanted to spread a little joy to the 'with-outs'."
