Short answer
Gunghap (궁합) is the Korean practice of comparing two people's saju charts to see how they fit as a couple, looking mainly at their birthday types, elements and day branches.
Where it comes from
For generations, Korean families compared the charts of a couple before a wedding. Today most people do it for fun, in saju cafés, apps, or with a friend who 'knows a bit'. It shows up in K-dramas whenever a mother-in-law needs a plot twist.
What a gunghap looks at
The core is the two birthday types and how their elements relate: does one feed the other, check the other, or mirror it? Readers also compare the day branches, traditionally called the spouse palace (we say partner seat), and look for harmonies and clashes between the charts. A full reading compares all eight characters on both sides.
| Relation | Pairs | In a couple it feels like |
|---|---|---|
| Feeds (generating cycle) | Water to Wood, Wood to Fire, Fire to Earth, Earth to Metal, Metal to Water | Easy flow. One gives, the other grows. |
| Checks (controlling cycle) | Wood to Earth, Earth to Water, Water to Fire, Fire to Metal, Metal to Wood | Friction and pull. Growth through challenge. |
| Same element | Wood and Wood, Fire and Fire, and so on | A mirror. Instant understanding, shared blind spots. |
How to read a score sensibly
A high score means easy chemistry; a low one means more friction to work through. Neither decides anything. Some of the most stable couples are 'hard' pairs who learned to talk, and some 'perfect' pairs get bored. Our 55 pair pages explain where each pair clicks and clashes, and how compatibility works explains the maths.
FAQ
Do Koreans still check gunghap?
Many do, mostly for fun or curiosity, and some families still take it seriously before a wedding. It is a familiar part of the culture rather than a rule.
Can gunghap tell me if we will break up?
No. It describes how two temperaments tend to interact. Whether a relationship lasts depends on the two people, not a chart.
What is a good gunghap score?
On our scale, scores run from the mid-40s to the low 90s: above 75 suggests easy chemistry, below 60 more friction. Both can work. Read the page for your pair to see why.