Reluctance Toward Formal Ceremonies
Average Wedding Cost Reaches 20.74 Million Won, Even Higher in Seoul
Lee Jiwon (30), who is set to get married next year, has decided not to hold a wedding ceremony. She made this decision because of the financial burden of wedding expenses and her belief that a formal ceremony holds little meaning. She said, "I think it's more important for the couple to celebrate together than to have a wedding in the same way as everyone else," adding, "We decided to invest the wedding budget in a house or home appliances instead."
An increasing number of newlyweds are choosing to skip the wedding ceremony altogether, opting for a "no-wedding" approach due to the burden of costs reaching tens of millions of won.
According to the Korea Consumer Agency on September 11, as of June, the nationwide average cost for wedding services was 20.74 million won. This figure combines the cost of the wedding venue and the so-called "studio, dress, and makeup" services. Costs were even higher in the metropolitan area, with the average in Seoul's Gangnam district reaching 33.36 million won, and other areas of Seoul averaging 27.03 million won.
Some people are so averse to holding weddings at wedding halls that they create an "announcement card" instead of a traditional wedding invitation. Song (32), an office worker who got married this year, said, "The system at wedding halls felt like a factory, with one wedding ending and another beginning with only the people changing." She added, "Fortunately, both of our parents were understanding, so we held a simple family meal instead. I made the announcement cards to let those we couldn't meet in person know about our marriage."
Lee Eunhee, a professor of consumer studies at Inha University, said, "Since wedding expenses can reach tens of millions of won, people are increasingly considering practical aspects. They are boldly skipping things that hold no value for them and focusing their spending on what they consider more important, such as a home or a car."
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