Helping Korean Singles Across America Find True Love

A conversation with Jenny Kim, UCLA graduate and Korean-American Matchmaker at DUO America

Finding love in today’s world is not easy. Busy work schedules leave little time for meeting new people. Dating apps can be disappointing, filled with people who are not serious, not ready, or not honest. Even after years in a committed relationship, many face heartbreak when financial issues, family incompatibilities, or mismatched goals come to light.

For Korean singles in the U.S., the challenge can feel even greater. Some live in areas where the Korean community is small. Others may be ready to build a future but don’t want to waste time on casual dating. Still others simply want a safe and trustworthy way to meet someone who truly shares their values.

This is where DUO America comes in. As the premier Korean matchmaking service in the United States, DUO has been connecting singles for decades — 30 years in Korea and 27 years in America. Together, DUO has served nearly 100,000 members, with over 52,000 marriages officially on record. Today, we are proud to have nearly 36,000 current members worldwide.

At DUO America, members are introduced only to serious, verified marriage prospects in a respectful and personalized way — and every meeting is always their choice. At the center of this mission is Jenny Kim, a UCLA graduate and Korean-American Matchmaker, who has dedicated her career to helping singles across the country find meaningful relationships and lasting marriages.

Interview

Q: Could you please introduce yourself to our readers?

A: My name is Jenny Kim. During my college years at UCLA, I served as President of the Korean American Student Association (KASA), the Southern California Korean College Students Association (SCKCSA), and I also helped lead UCLA’s Korean Culture Night — the largest student-run Korean cultural performance in the country. These roles gave me the privilege of serving our community, and they also shaped my passion for connecting people. Today, I carry that same passion into my role at DUO America.

Q: What makes DUO America different from other dating services?

A: While our history speaks for itself, what truly sets us apart is how we serve our members today. At DUO America, we focus on quality over quantity. Other matchmaking services may boast about having “more” members, but we believe it’s far better to introduce you to 10 serious marriage prospects than to 100 people who aren’t ready, aren’t sincere, or can easily be found on dating apps.

That’s how DUO America has created hundreds of successful marriages in the U.S. Sometimes it only takes one meeting; sometimes it takes many — but neither can happen unless you take the first step.

We also go beyond education, career, and finances. We learn about each member’s family values and background, because in Korean culture, harmony between families is just as important as compatibility between husband and wife. That’s a level of care that numbers alone can’t capture.

Q: Can you tell us more about DUO America’s members?

A: Our membership is strong, selective, and highly qualified. More than 99% of our members are college graduates, and over 70% have pursued higher education at the master’s or doctoral level. Over 99% are of Korean descent, and all of our members are financially stable and ready to start a family — or to live out the rest of their lives comfortably with their best friend and soulmate.

An overwhelming majority — over 90% — maintain close and healthy relationships with their parents and family members, which is a significant factor in Korean culture when it comes to marriage. Our members also come from respected and professional backgrounds: medicine, law, finance, engineering, education, business, and many other fields.

Q: What services do you provide for members throughout the process?

A: At DUO America, we don’t just stop at introductions — we take care of everything from consultation, communication, introductions, and date reservations to follow-ups, closure of connections, encouragement, handling concerns, and genuine congratulations when matches succeed.

Another key to our credibility is verification. We verify each applicant’s information — including proof of employment, diplomas, identification, and background checks — so that our members can feel confident they are meeting honest, sincere, and qualified prospects.

Every member also has a personal manager who guides them through every step. This includes sharing constructive feedback from dates, which is especially helpful for members who are inexperienced in dating — or even those who are very experienced but may need more self-awareness about what to improve. With this guidance, our members not only meet potential partners, but also grow personally in preparation for marriage.

Another benefit is flexibility. If life gets busy, stressful, or if you decide to focus on someone you’ve met outside DUO, you can simply put your membership on hold. Unlike casual dating apps, DUO members are introduced only to serious marriage prospects — not strangers, not random matches.

Members choose who they want to meet by reviewing profiles in advance, which include crucial details such as values, lifestyle, hobbies, family background, and long-term goals. This means that before you ever agree to meet, you already know the important foundations about your potential match. You can also ask your manager for additional insights to help you decide. If you’re on the fence, your manager will be there to talk it through — always supporting your choice. Think of your manager as both a professional guide and a trusted friend: someone you might occasionally disagree with, but who is always in your corner.

Because so much important information is clear before the first meeting, the date itself becomes less cautious and more genuine. There’s more room for natural chemistry to grow, for deeper conversations to unfold, and for both people to truly relax and get to know each other.

Q: DUO America recently hosted an event. Can you tell us about it?

A: Yes, our recent speed dating event in Los Angeles this past August was a wonderful success. We had 21 women and 21 men participate. The initial results showed 14 couples matched immediately. But our managers went the extra mile — following up, encouraging, and creating additional opportunities for connection. By the very end, we proudly had 25 couples successfully matched.

Seeing people meet in person, laugh together, and discover shared values was inspiring. Because of this, we are already preparing for more events in the near future. We are exploring different locations and themes — possibly Los Angeles, New York, or Texas — and also considering unique event formats designed for different groups, such as older singles, divorcees, or those new to dating. While the details are still being finalized, one thing is certain: we plan to continue creating exciting opportunities for our members to connect face-to-face.

Q: Why did you choose matchmaking as your career?

A: Love has always been the most important thing in my life. Like many others, I went through the challenges of dating and the longing to find the right partner. Now that I have found my life partner, I understand deeply how precious it is to share life with someone. That is why I feel called to help others. Every time one of our members finds happiness, I feel grateful and proud. For me, this work is deeply personal — it’s about guiding people toward the same happiness I was fortunate enough to find.

Q: What have you learned during your time at DUO America?

A: It has been almost a year since I joined DUO America, and during this time I’ve learned so much — not only from my clients but also from my director, Jennifer. She has been an incredible mentor who taught me to treat every client with patience, care, and respect. She takes the work seriously, but she also created a supportive environment where employees are never pressured, scorned, or abandoned. That same spirit of respect is what we extend to all of our members.

Q: Why should singles apply for a DUO membership now, and not later?

A: From my experience so far, one of the biggest lessons is that waiting too long to apply can create real disadvantages — for both men and women.

For women, I’ve seen that very few men seek marriage with women in their mid-30s or older. When men think about marriage and building a family, most strongly prefer a partner under 30. This preference is not only cultural, but also practical: earlier childbirth is widely understood to carry fewer health risks, both for mother and baby. As women age, the chances of complications or difficulties in pregnancy increase, so many men naturally prioritize finding a partner who can start a family sooner rather than later.

For men, the challenge is different. Those who delay often become overly fixated on appearance or try to pursue much younger women. But no matter how successful or accomplished they are, large age gaps almost always work against them. Even if the woman herself is open to it, her parents are often very uncomfortable with the idea. And like anyone, men are not immune to the effects of aging — changes in appearance, outdated style, or even hair loss can make it more difficult to be matched with younger women.

These are natural realities of life, not judgments. What I’ve learned at DUO America is that those who apply earlier — when they are truly ready — simply have more options, more confidence, and better chances of finding a compatible partner. Another major benefit is that younger applicants also enjoy our lowest membership fees, especially for those seeking partners close to their own age. My advice is simple: if you are serious about marriage, don’t wait. The right time to apply is now.

At DUO America, we understand your challenges — balancing careers, handling disappointments from dating apps, or moving on from past relationships. But if you are serious about marriage, you don’t need to face it alone.

Instead of spending months or years guessing someone’s intentions, our members know the basics from the start — values, goals, family background, and readiness for marriage. That clarity gives you the freedom to focus on building a genuine connection.

For more information about DUO America memberships and our upcoming events, please contact Jenny Kim at jennykim@duoamerica.net. The fastest way to receive a free consultation is to visit www.duoamerica.net and submit the contact form. Don’t wait — your future begins when you take the first step.