Believed to Be Related to the APEC Summit
Joo Jinwoo: "Government Pressured Hotel to Cancel Weddings"
"Unthinkable in a Free Democracy"
The Seoul Shilla Hotel is facing controversy after unilaterally notifying some couples that their weddings scheduled for early November will be canceled due to a national event. Couples who have been preparing for at least a year are now in confusion due to the sudden notice, and criticism is also emerging from the political sphere.
Weddings Canceled Just Two Months Before the Date
According to industry sources on September 22, the Seoul Shilla Hotel recently informed some customers with weddings scheduled for November that "a national event is scheduled for early November, so we are inevitably notifying you of a reservation change," effectively canceling their wedding dates. The hotel explained that the pre-signed contract included a clause stating that the event could be canceled if a government event arises, so there will be no compensation or penalty fees, but individual consultations are underway as a matter of ethical responsibility.
The hotel has not disclosed what the national event is or how many weddings have been canceled because of it. However, there is speculation that this is related to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit to be held in Gyeongju at the end of October. This year's APEC Summit is expected to bring U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping to Korea. The Korean government is also pushing to hold Korea-U.S. and Korea-China summits before and after the APEC event, which are likely to take place in Seoul. As a result, both the U.S. and Chinese delegations are reportedly securing accommodations in Seoul as well.
"Even Studio, Dress, and Makeup Must Be Changed"... Couples in Distress
Couples whose wedding dates have been unilaterally canceled just two months before the ceremony are in a state of shock. They have already distributed invitations to friends and family, and finding a new venue at this point is virtually impossible. Wedding preparations typically begin a year in advance, and for popular venues, reservations are sometimes made two years ahead. The Shilla Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul, is also known to require reservations to be confirmed at least a year in advance.
Changing the wedding date also means rescheduling honeymoon flights and accommodations, as well as studio, dress, and makeup appointments-collectively referred to as "Seudeume." This process could incur cancellation fees, causing significant disruption to the couples' plans. One bride-to-be expressed her frustration on social media, saying, "Our wedding, a once-in-a-lifetime event, was scheduled for November 2, but we suddenly received a cancellation notice from the hotel. With less than 50 days left, I am completely overwhelmed by this news."
Details of "National Event" Not Disclosed... Believed to Be APEC Summit
The hotel has not disclosed what the national event is or how many weddings have been canceled because of it. However, there is speculation that this is related to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit to be held in Gyeongju at the end of October. This year's APEC Summit is expected to bring U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping to Korea. The Korean government is also pushing to hold Korea-U.S. and Korea-China summits before and after the APEC event, which are likely to take place in Seoul. As a result, both the U.S. and Chinese delegations are reportedly securing accommodations in Seoul as well.
Assemblyman Joo Jinwoo Criticizes: "Unthinkable in a Free Democracy"
Assemblyman Joo Jinwoo of the People Power Party criticized the situation on his social media, saying, "It is unthinkable in a free democracy for the government to pressure a hotel into canceling weddings that were reserved a year in advance. If you value your own children, you should value others' children as well." He added, "The president's son had a lavish wedding attended by a huge crowd. Does this mean that ordinary citizens must give up their reserved venues at the government's command? No matter how important an international event is, it cannot infringe upon the happiness and rights of the people. The government should apologize and correct this immediately."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
