In Korea, before two families approve a marriage, they look at 궁합 (gunghap) — Saju compatibility. It compares both birth charts using the Five Elements harmony method and tells you whether your energies generate, support, or clash with each other. This page explains how it works in plain English, with a free calculator that does it in 60 seconds.
Western compatibility usually compares sun signs ("a Leo and a Scorpio? oof"). Korean gunghap is structurally deeper. It looks at four overlapping layers:
| Combination | Relationship | What it feels like |
|---|---|---|
| Wood + Fire | Wood feeds Fire (생, generation) | You inspire each other. Energetic, public-facing couple. |
| Fire + Earth | Fire feeds Earth (생) | Stable partnership. Easy domestic life. |
| Earth + Metal | Earth feeds Metal (생) | Quietly productive. Builds wealth steadily. |
| Metal + Water | Metal feeds Water (생) | Smart-couple energy. Communicates well. |
| Water + Wood | Water feeds Wood (생) | Romantic, growth-oriented. Often a creative pair. |
| Wood + Metal | Metal cuts Wood (극, control) | Tense but productive. One pushes, one resists. |
| Fire + Water | Water extinguishes Fire (극) | Volatile. Big highs, big lows. |
| Earth + Wood | Wood breaks Earth (극) | One feels controlled. Needs explicit boundaries. |
| Metal + Fire | Fire melts Metal (극) | Transformative. Either deeply rewarding or burnout. |
| Water + Earth | Earth blocks Water (극) | Communication friction. Solvable with effort. |
If your year branches form one of these pairs, you have a built-in soulmate factor:
Opposite branches clash. These pairings can still work — but expect more drama and more growth:
Korean gunghap exists to give you language for your dynamic — not a verdict. Modern Saju practitioners typically interpret the chart this way: clashes mark where the work is, not whether the relationship should end. Marriages between "incompatible" charts often last longer than "perfect" ones because both people show up consciously.
Yes, especially in older families and in arranged-introduction (sun, 선) settings. Younger Koreans often check gunghap casually with apps before getting serious. The cultural weight has softened, but the tradition persists.
Read it as terrain, not destiny. Knowing you're a Wood-Metal pair tells you to negotiate boundaries explicitly. Knowing you're a Fire-Water pair tells you to schedule cool-down rituals. Bad gunghap forewarned is good gunghap managed.
For the deepest reading, yes — the hour pillar refines compatibility. Year + day alone gives a useful directional answer, which is enough for casual checking.