"Collecting congratulatory money... At some point, the culture of giving and receiving must end"

Concerns Over Appropriateness of 50,000, 70,000, 100,000 Won
"If 100,000 Won is Burdensome, Pay 50,000 Won and Skip"

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Joo-hee] Recently, a story about conflicts over wedding congratulatory money has spread on online communities, sparking intense debates. Professor Eunhee Lee of the Department of Consumer Studies at Inha University advised those considering the appropriate amount to "set the congratulatory money based on the meal cost." She also pointed out that the practice of collecting congratulatory money should ultimately be eradicated.

On the 16th, Professor Lee appeared on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' and diagnosed the current situation, saying, "With prices rising so much and household finances tightening, people feel a great burden regarding congratulatory money. It has become a burden for both those who pay and those who receive."

She explained, "The 'Kim Young-ran Act' was implemented six years ago, targeting public officials, and set condolence and congratulatory money at 50,000 won. However, prices have risen so much in the past six years that now 50,000 won feels like too little for congratulatory money." She added, "The average meal cost for a buffet is about 70,000 won. For courses served at hotels, it exceeds 140,000 won."

Professor Lee said, "Although it is burdensome to give congratulatory money to family or relatives, the most burdensome are colleagues or business relations," and advised, "If you attend a wedding, consider how much the meal might cost, and if you can give more than the meal cost as congratulatory money, try to adjust accordingly."

For those who find it difficult to give congratulatory money, she suggested, "If paying 100,000 won considering the meal cost is burdensome, then pay 50,000 won and no-show (not attend the wedding)."

Regarding the practice of collecting congratulatory money, Professor Lee said, "(If we) do not break the culture of giving and receiving, the side effects will continue to repeat, so at some point, it must stop," and added, "Such changes are necessary as we establish a new wedding culture."