A new dating trend is gaining traction among young people in China, where former partners are being “referred” to prospective dates much like job candidates.

South Korean-influenced reality shows rise in popularity, in part driven by mature women who are brutally honest about the men taking part.

Soon after Min moved to the U.K., she noticed a difference in the way women presented themselves on dating apps. Back in China, she and most other women would edit their photos to look “pretty, ...