KoreanCupid Review December 2018 - Money pit or a real dates?

Last updated: October 2018

Our Review

KoreanCupid is one of Cupid Media’s niche dating websites. It specifically caters to male singles from Western countries who are interested in dating women with Korean ethnic roots. However, the member base of KoreanCupid is still very diverse. There are female users who are from different countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, and the Philippines— the same goes for male members. Launched in 2002, KoreanCupid has gained over 500,000 members worldwide and is continuously becoming more popular today.

Member Structure

Members

10,000 from United Kingdom

Members activity

4,000 active weekly

Gender Proportion

40 %

60 %

You get a personal profile which you can fill out

Over 500,000 users worldwide
Majority of its users, both male and female, are from Korea

The member base of KoreanCupid is mainly composed of singles from Korea and the United States that are within the age range of 25-54. Majority of both male and female users are singles who are of Korean descent, whether currently living in Korea or the US. Yet, there are also members who seem to not have any Korean blood at all—there are Asian and Caucasian members who seem to be looking for a Korean partner. It is highly evident that users of KoreanCupid are either looking for love or friendship, due to what they write on their freely-written ‘About Me’ paragraphs.

As for fake profiles, there are hardly any because KoreanCupid monitors all new accounts that are created within their dating portal. When they suspect a fraudulent profile or deem your profile as low-quality, they will automatically terminate your account. This is why members really fill out their profiles with relevant information and upload clear photos as their profile pictures.

18-24
25-34
35-44
45-54
55+

Signing Up

Quick and easy registration
Join using email or Facebook
Import photos from Facebook
Profile photo can be uploaded later
No email verification required

Signing up for an account with KoreanCupid is quick and easy. You just need to provide basic details such as your first name, age, gender, email address, and a nominated password. After a successful sign-up, there is no need for an email verification. However, you can have your identity validated by uploading a clear and recognizable valid ID to ensure that your account won’t get suspended for suspicious activity. You are also not required to upload a profile photo right away.

KoreanCupid allows users to sign-up using their Facebook account. Linking your Facebook into the site automatically validates your credibility and would not get your account terminated, unless you do something that violates KoreanCupid’s terms of usage. By connecting your Facebook page, you can also import photos from your Facebook account instead of manually uploading them from your computer.

Making Contact

Sending hearts is free for everyone
Sending a message is only for premium members
Replying to messages is free of charge
Advanced search filters available
You can add interesting members to your favourites list

There is a chatroom

Interacting with other members may be quite difficult if you do not have a premium membership as only premium members are able to send messages. If you are a free member, you could only wait until a premium member initiates a conversation. You could, however, send hearts to show other users that you are interested in them. You could also put interesting members to your favourites list—and if these users are premium members, they would be notified by this.

Both free and paying members could use KoreanCupid’s advanced search filters. The extent of the search filters you can use depends on your membership. However, even with a free plan, users can still use the main search tabs such as searching by cupid tags, by matching criteria, and popular topic searches.

Profile Quality

Profile information and photo gallery are visible for all members
Indicators are present if you and the user is a match
"Block User" and "Report Abuse" buttons are accessible

The profiles are quite detailed
Profile photo and information can be added later

Along with your profile photo, your profile in KoreanCupid features detailed basic information about your appearance, lifestyle, background/cultural values, and hobbies and interests. When filling out these fields of information, you either tick the correct option or choose the best choice from a drop-down menu for each field on the ‘edit profile’ tab. Your profile also shows the two paragraphs—an about you and about the person you are seeking—which KoreanCupid asks you to write right after a successful sign-up.

All members of KoreanCupid can earn a green verified profile badge that would always be displayed right beside their names. Verifying your profile requires you to upload a clear and recognizable valid ID. This ID will not be displayed on your profile nor would it be given to any third parties.

App

Same features as the website
Clean design and easy navigation
Search results rarely refresh
Not available on iOS

The app version of KoreanCupid has the same features as the website. The default member search results are displayed in a linear layout and only refreshes whenever there is a new sign-up. You could, however, filter the search results on the ‘Search’ tab, or browse through the different categories of the ‘Popular Searches’ tab for interesting profiles. Each member displayed on any of the search tabs have two action icons visible on the lower part of their photo. The icons are:

a heart which you tap to send an interest to that profile, or
a message icon which allows you to send a message.

However, as with the web version of KoreanCupid, messaging is only for premium members.

Real Life Review

I could not stop thinking about my trip to Korea last summer, which made me sign up for KoreanCupid. When I was visiting the country, I could only watch the women being cute—posing for selfies and eating their ice cream. I really wanted to say hi, but as a white, 26-year old male, I may come off as a pervert and I was afraid of the language barrier. When I went back to the States, I found out about KoreanCupid and got myself a 3-month Platinum membership for the messages translation feature. I’ve been a member for over a month and so far, the experience has been a blast. I was actually surprised that many Koreans that I talked to can understand English perfectly. So I figured that after my Platinum membership expires, I might just switch to Gold. We’ll see. I am hopeful that I would make lots of Korean friends that the next time I visit their country, I would get the local tour. - Brandon, 26, Chef and Backpacker

Design and Usability

KoreanCupid has a neat and convenient design. All features are organised well on the top menu bar, with additional action buttons found on the left and right sidebar. How matches and member search results are displayed on the web version are commendable—with action buttons made available for you whenever you hover over a profile photo. Even the profiles are designed well to show the important profile details on the landing page via quick view, with half of the profile page showcasing the user’s profile photo. It is impossible to miss out on any features as KoreanCupid makes everything easily accessible throughout the dating website

KoreanCupid Costs and Prices

Basic matching
Send interest
Communicate only with paying members

Live chat with instant messenger
Send and receive messages
Disable ads
Hide your profile and browse anonymously
Be on top of match searches
Double your profile space
VIP profile highlighting
Exclusive search features
Advanced matching algorithms
Translate messages into your language

Duration / Credits / Coins	Costs per month	Total
Gold Membership
1 Month	27.99 GBP / Month	27.99 GBP
3 Months	18.66 GBP / Month	55.99 GBP
12 Months	9.33 GBP / Month	111.99 GBP
Platinum Membership
1 Month	32.98 GBP / Month	32.98 GBP
3 Months	21.99 GBP / Month	65.98 GBP
12 Months	11.00 GBP / Month	131.98 GBP

Is KoreanCupid expensive or cheap?

In comparison to other providers KoreanCupid is upper moderate.

Bank Transfer
Credit Card
PayPal
Paysafecard
Online Bank Transfer

Premium membership in KoreanCupid automatically renews once it expires. You can opt out of the auto-renewal by disabling it on your account settings. If ever you decide that you want to cancel your membership, you are eligible for a refund if you have not used any of the paid features of the website. If by any chance you decide to cancel in the middle of your membership duration, you can still fully use the website’s paid features until your next billing cycle.

Special Features

KoreanCupid doesn’t offer any special feature for free members except the ability to view who visited your profile with a timestamp indicated. Free members can also see how long ago each member was last seen online.

For Platinum premium members, this special feature is offered:

Messages Translation

Messages of other members who use a different language can be instantly translated to the language you use. This makes communicating with people from different culture and backgrounds easier.

Our rating

Signing Up:	2.5 / 5
Making Contact:	3.5 / 5
Profile Quality:	3.5 / 5
App:	2.5 / 5
Real Life Review:	4.0 / 5

Editors Conclusion

Overall, KoreanCupid provides a reliable and safe platform for men and women who want to date a different race. With its diverse and growing member base, you are sure to find a man or a woman whom you can share a connection with. If you are truly interested in using KoreanCupid as a means of finding the right partner, we suggest that you get a Gold membership as only premium-paying members can send messages to other users. You shouldn’t worry if the person you are interested in has a premium plan—replying to messages is free. If you are still unsure, you could simply sign up for a free account and get a feel if KoreanCupid is the right dating site for you.

FAQ

Facts

Who owns KoreanCupid?

KoreanCupid is owned and operated by the Australian-based company, Cupid Media Pty Ltd.

When was KoreanCupid launched?

KoreanCupid was launched in 2002.

Do I have to be Korean to join?

No, all nationalities can join KoreanCupid.

Do I have to reside in the US to join?

No, users from all over the world can join KoreanCupid. However, it is just highly marketed in Korea and the United States.

Is KoreanCupid a legitimate dating website?

Yes, KoreanCupid is a legitimate dating website.

Are there fake profiles in KoreanCupid?

As with other dating sites, KoreanCupid also has its share of fake profiles. However, CupidMedia sees to it that these fake profiles are terminated as soon as possible.

Membership

Is registration free?

Yes, registering an account with KoreanCupid is free of charge.

Does KoreanCupid have premium plans?

Yes, KoreanCupid has two premium plans—Gold and Platinum.

Can I cancel my membership anytime?

Yes, you can cancel your membership anytime through your account settings. You can use all paid features up to your next billing cycle.

How do I permanently delete my account?

You can choose to delete your account through your account settings.

Can I temporarily deactivate my account?

Yes, you can choose to delete your account and ask KoreanCupid’s customer support to reactivate it if you change your mind. KoreanCupid also deactivates profiles that have not been active for six consecutive months.

Does KoreanCupid offer refunds?

KoreanCupid may give refunds to premium account holders who have not used any of the paid features on the website.

Usability

How does KoreanCupid work?

KoreanCupid provides a platform for users from all over the world to meet and interact with each other.

Where does KoreanCupid base its match suggestions?

Match suggestions in KoreanCupid are based on personal matching criteria.

How come I cannot message another user?

You are only able to message another user if you have a premium plan.

I suspect a fake profile, how do I report it?

You could click the ‘Report User’ button on his or her profile.

Does KoreanCupid offer video chat?

KoreanCupid only has text chat functions.

Security

What security features does KoreanCupid have?

KoreanCupid has privacy policies and terms of usage that are strictly enforced and monitored.

What is the IMBRA Safety Information Form? Is that required?

International Marriage Broker Regulation (IMBRA) form is a document that US citizens have to sign before they contact a user from another country. This protects users on both ends.