'Gyeongbuk Province Supporting Youth Marriage' ... First 'Romantic Wedding' Born at Provincial Office

Young Couple Settles in Docheong New Town... Ceremony Officiated by Gyeongbuk Province Deputy Governor for Economy

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Dong-wook] Gyeongsangbuk-do announced on the 13th that the first couple of the project "Romantic Wedding for Two," planned for engaged couples who suffered mental and economic damages due to wedding cancellations or postponements caused by the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), has been born.

Among the three couples selected through a public contest last July, a couple residing in the Provincial Government New Town will hold their wedding ceremony for the first time on the 13th at the corridor of the Gyeongbuk Provincial Government Office. The main couple, Kim Subin (30) and Hong Ji-hye (32), are a barista instructor and a student who brew fragrant coffee. They met in Daejeon and, after five years of dating, finally got married.

This couple moved from Daejeon to the Provincial Government New Town in January this year and currently operate a barista academy. They also contribute significantly to the local community by volunteering as teachers in Dansaem Village and providing talent donation education to local students at Homyeong Elementary School, Gyeongbuk Ilgo High School, and others. Originally planning to marry in the first half of this year, they only registered their marriage due to COVID-19 restrictions and intended to hold the wedding ceremony again in August, but due to the social atmosphere, they had no choice but to bear the cancellation fees.

The Kim-Hong couple, who became the protagonists of the "Romantic Wedding," said, "The Provincial Government building near our newlywed home represents Gyeongbuk and has a very pleasing view, so we requested it as the wedding venue." They added, "As soon as we settled in Gyeongbuk, we received an unforgettable gift. We will repay the local community with gratitude by donating our talents to low-income groups and local students."

At the wedding ceremony, Ha Dae-sung, Deputy Governor for Economy of Gyeongsangbuk-do, officiated at the request of the couple who had few ties to the Gyeongbuk region, and Park Si-gyun, Youth Policy Officer, served as the master of ceremonies.

Deputy Governor Ha Dae-sung congratulated the couple, saying, "If the wise two trust, respect, and love each other generously, they will lead a happier life than anyone else." He added, "The new family created by these two young people with beautiful hearts will become a great asset and hope for our Gyeongbuk."

Meanwhile, couples selected for Gyeongbuk's "Romantic Wedding" project receive support to freely decorate the wedding venue with their own stories and ideas through consulting with professional wedding companies, and about 5 million KRW per couple is provided for wedding expenses such as attire, makeup, and wedding photography. The second couple will hold their wedding on the 26th at Gimcheon Jikji Cultural Park, and the third couple will have theirs on October 24th at Gyeongju Cultural Expo Park.