“If you like it, then you should put a ring on it”

Abstract

The particular phenomenon of wearing a “couple ring” on the left ring finger is national-widely common across multiple generations in South Korean dating scenes, while such rings belong to only engaged or married individuals in most cultures. As the earliest sociological research on couple rings, this article seeks to i) investigate the meaning of the symbol “couple rings,” ii) provide a sociocultural description of the “couple ring” phenomenon, and iii) analyze the interactions among the symbol, individuals, and the society. To introduce and analyze the general idea of couple rings, the captured reality of the couple ring culture and its sociological analyses are provided through multiple research methods such as literature review, digital ethnography, and theoretical analyses in the format of a conceptual study. Based on the results, implications, possible futures, and further potential elaborations are discussed.