"Do I Really Have to Give 150,000 Won as Congratulatory Money These Days?"... How Much Are Wedding Meal Costs?

Average Wedding Cost in Gangnam Reaches 35.99 Million Won, Meal Price Surpasses 90,000 Won
Gyeongsang at 12.28 Million Won... Regional Gap Continues to Widen

The cost per person for wedding meals at venues in Seoul’s Gangnam district has surpassed 90,000 won. While the national average cost of weddings has remained stable, the rising prices of wedding venues in Gangnam are widening the regional gap.

Image of a wedding hall to aid understanding of the article. Pexels

Polarization of Wedding Costs... Gangnam Hits Record High at 35.99 Million Won

According to the "December 2025 Wedding Service Price Trend" survey released by the Korea Consumer Agency on January 30, the average total cost of wedding services across 14 regions nationwide was 20.91 million won. This amount includes venue rental fees, studio photography, dress, makeup, and other typical wedding package items.

This figure represents a 0.2% increase from the average in October of the previous year (20.86 million won). The Consumer Agency explained that the trend has remained relatively stable over the past three months without significant fluctuations.

However, regional disparities remain significant. The average wedding cost in Seoul’s Gangnam district reached 35.99 million won, up 2.8% from October, marking the highest level since the survey in April of the previous year. In particular, the average meal cost per person in Gangnam rose from 88,000 won in October to 90,000 won in December, a 2.3% increase, surpassing the 90,000-won mark for the first time.

The Consumer Agency analyzed that this was due to the meal costs at the top 10% of high-end wedding venues in Gangnam rising from 120,000 won in October to 142,000 won in December, an 18.3% increase, which in turn pushed up the overall median price.

Soaring Meal Costs Lead to 'Congratulatory Money Concerns'... Regional Disparities Also Evident

The increase in wedding meal costs is also causing psychological pressure for guests. Many are now more concerned about how much congratulatory money to give. Recently, on online communities and social networking services (SNS), people have shared that they are reconsidering attending weddings due to meal costs or feel burdened by invitations to acquaintances’ weddings when the relationship is not close.

In contrast, the average wedding cost in the Gyeongsang region was the lowest at 12.28 million won, only about one-third of the Gangnam figure. Daejeon and Gwangju saw the largest declines, with average costs dropping by 4.4% each from October, mainly due to discount policies at some venues.

An official from the Consumer Agency stated, "Wedding service costs vary greatly by region and provider, and additional expenses may arise depending on selected options. Prospective couples should carefully check the detailed prices for each item using the estimated quote feature on the 'Chamgagyeok' website before signing contracts."