Gyeonggi-do Steps in to Mediate 'Wedding Hall Complaints' Amid COVID-19 Spread

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] #1 Groom-to-be A, living in Ansan, Gyeonggi-do, whose wedding is less than a month away, recently inquired at the wedding hall whether the originally contracted guaranteed number of 300 guests could be reduced to 50 due to the strengthening of social distancing to Level 2. However, the wedding hall responded that A would have to pay a 40% penalty fee on the meal cost for 250 guests.

#2 B, who is getting married this weekend and lives in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi-do, decided to hold the ceremony by splitting it into two halls with 50 guests each due to the strengthened social distancing. B told the wedding hall that instead of providing meals, return gifts would be given, but was told that the meal cost for 75 guests must still be borne.

As consultations regarding damages to couples preparing for weddings have continued due to the strengthening of social distancing to Level 2 amid the resurgence of COVID-19 in Gyeonggi-do, the province has stepped in to mediate support.

Gyeonggi-do announced that starting from the 24th, it has launched a one-stop support system through the Gyeonggi-do Consumer Information Center to resolve consumer disputes related to wedding halls. The province had also operated a system to resolve wedding hall-related consumer disputes last March.

This is in response to the recent sharp increase in consumer disputes related to wedding halls. According to the province, consultations related to wedding halls, which were 60 cases in January, surged to 563 cases in February when COVID-19 spread, and 447 cases in March, then decreased to around 150 cases after April. However, with the resurgence of COVID-19 centered in the metropolitan area, 318 consultations were received as of the 20th of this month.

The province notes that although the Korea Wedding Industry Association agreed, through efforts by the Fair Trade Commission, to allow free postponement within six months, member companies account for only 30% of all wedding businesses, so active mediation by the province is necessary for disputes with non-member wedding halls.

If consumers request dispute resolution at the Gyeonggi-do Consumer Information Center, they can receive initial damage handling and mediation through the counseling center. If the dispute is not resolved through mediation, Gyeonggi-do plans to directly apply for mediation with the Consumer Dispute Mediation Committee and have the case handled at the monthly Gyeonggi Mediation Committee meetings.

The application target is Gyeonggi-do residents who have signed contracts with wedding halls located within the province. Consumers wishing to apply can submit their wedding contract and damage details to the Consumer Information Center (031-251-9898).

Lee Yong-su, Director of the Gyeonggi-do Fair Trade Bureau, said, "We empathize that wedding businesses are also facing many difficulties in management due to COVID-19," adding, "However, since this is a serious situation to overcome the infectious disease crisis, it is unfair to generally hold only consumers responsible when they are not at fault, so this needs to be improved."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.