South Koreans are celebrating being single by dressing in black and tucking into a bowl of black bean noodles.
Black Day in South Korea happens every year on April 14. It follows Valentines Day on February 14 when women traditionally spoil their male partners. Men return their affections on White Day one month later.
Black Day is for everyone else. When the singles of South Korea collectively order for 1.
Participants are encouraged to share their melancholy with their fellow bachelors and bachelorettes over noodle soup, black noodles to be precise, as a reminder of their relationship status. The black bean noodle dish, called Jjajangmyeon, is local comfort food. It's colour also conveniently matches the day's mourning garb.
It's unclear who started the event, but it's become a popular in major cities across South Korea.
The country's marketing industry has also jumped on the spoof event, offering speed-dating and meal promotions. Even K-POP has capitalised on the holiday, with girl group 'Pascol' with this 'single' last year.
