Wedding Planner Company 'Seudeume' Package Price Disclosure to Be Mandatory

Announcement of Support Measures for the Development of Marriage Services on the 14th
Preventing Damage from 'Blind' Price Information in the Marriage Market

From now on, wedding preparation agencies (wedding planner companies) that sell ‘Seudeume (studio shooting, dress, makeup)’ packages must disclose detailed price information on their own websites. This is intended to prevent consumer damage caused by the lack of transparent price disclosure. The government has decided to promote the enactment of the 'Marriage Service Act' that mandates price disclosure.

On the 14th, the Ministry of Economy and Finance announced the 'Marriage Service Development Support Plan' at the Economic Ministers' Meeting. The core of the plan is to require wedding preparation agencies and wedding halls that compose the so-called Seudeume programs and sell them to prospective brides and grooms to disclose price information to consumers in advance.

Companies that provide studio shooting, dresses, and makeup separately do not have to disclose price information. A Ministry of Economy and Finance official explained, “We judged that it is efficient for wedding preparation agencies, which have direct contact with consumers, to properly explain to consumers by disclosing the package product prices.” This measure takes into account the reality that most consumers prepare for their weddings by purchasing the Seudeume program composed by wedding preparation agencies all at once.

Going forward, wedding preparation agencies must disclose not only the prices of essential items such as studio shooting, dresses, and makeup but also the contents included in major optional items. Prices for major optional items such as additional album photo costs, outdoor/night shooting fees, and additional charges for high-quality dresses must also be publicly announced. Wedding halls must also disclose essential item costs such as venue rental fees, decoration costs, and food and beverage costs, along with major optional costs such as additional decoration fees and extra food and beverage charges.

However, price disclosure by wedding preparation agencies will not be immediately mandatory. Currently, wedding preparation agencies are registered as ‘free businesses’ or ‘mail-order businesses,’ making it difficult to accurately grasp the number of companies. The Ministry of Economy and Finance plans to promote the enactment of the Marriage Service Act to establish a separate management system within this year and make price disclosure mandatory after the law is passed. Once the law is enacted, guidelines requiring detailed price disclosure by item will be prepared and implemented through a notification by the Fair Trade Commission.

Until the Marriage Service Act is promoted, companies that have signed voluntary agreements (MOUs) will be subject to price disclosure. A Ministry of Economy and Finance official said, “We have started consultations with as many companies as possible,” and added, “Companies that have been disclosing Seudeume prices online and selling them do not seem to feel a significant burden regarding price disclosure.”

First, companies will be required to publicly announce prices on their own websites. For companies that are unable to do so, a method of disclosing prices through the Korea Consumer Agency’s price information site ‘Cham Price’ is being discussed. The Ministry of Economy and Finance stated, “Unexpected costs such as additional photo editing fees or morning reservation fees continue to be added during the use of marriage services, increasing the burden of wedding preparation,” and added, “We will support service providers to provide sufficient information to consumers.”