Whither the Korean Wedding?

South Korea’s wedding culture is having something of an identity crisis. At least that’s the position news daily Chosun Ilbo is taking this month, tackling the issue in a lengthy diatribe about spending habits among not just Seoul’s rich but also its growing pool of rich wannabes.

First there’s the tale of a 33-year-old accountant whose wedding cost close to 100,000 US dollars at one of Seoul’s ritzy five-star hotels. To fund the wedding and their new home, the couple borrowed a total loan of 160,000 dollars but parted ways after much quarrel over the interest payment on the loan.

Love isn’t just lost among couples either. Some high maintenance mothers-in-law want brides-to-be to come ready with presents. Lots of presents. “My parents gifted my mother-in-law a mink coat, a Chanel handbag and 50,000 US dollars in cash,” bemoaned one young woman. All for a reason of course. Her in-laws had paid for one year’s worth of rent for her new home, leaving the onus of reciprocation on the bride’s family.

And just what is all this material back-and-forth about? Whatever happened to good old-fashioned love? One angle is the burgeoning influence of entertainment and celebrities. Celebrity weddings such as that of former Miss Korea Lee Eun-hee are usually met with intense public curiosity and leaked photographs of the lavish affair. This sometimes translates into lofty dreams of similar fairy tale weddings. After all, almost everyone’s a sucker for glamour — and South Koreans are no exception.

But wait there’s more. While many young couples are bending over backwards, struggling to pay their bills, turns out most A-list and B-list Korean celebrities get lots of free swag to throw their weddings. This infographic shows how various companies eager for exposure provide up to 100,000 dollars in wedding sponsorship. From free wedding dresses, photography, right down to the honeymoon, unlike the rest of the population, Korean celebrities can get a ride unlike another, and that’s without paying one pretty penny.
 
 
Elizabeth lived and worked in Seoul for 5 years and is author of ‘Seoul Sweet Seoul,’ a girl’s category_ide to living, working, and enjoying South Korea, high costs of weddings be damned.