Busan City Takes Action to Resolve Consumer Damage in 'Wedding Hall Disputes'

Wedding Cancellations Continue Due to Social Distancing Level 2, Consumer Complaints Surge
Consumer Damage Mediation → Korea Consumer Agency Damage Relief Application → Dispute Mediation Committee

Busan City Hall.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] As social distancing measures were raised to Level 2, causing a surge in wedding-related damage consultations, Busan City is stepping in to resolve disputes related to wedding hall reservations.

According to an investigation by the Busan Consumer Life Center, this year, a total of 5,350 consumer consultations related to wedding halls were received at the '1372 Consumer Counseling Center,' of which 229 consultations were from Busan citizens, accounting for 4.3%.

In particular, in August, when COVID-19 rapidly spread in the Busan area, 43 consultations were received by the 24th alone, showing a significant increase.

Looking at major consultation cases, Ms. A, a bride-to-be from Dongnae-gu whose wedding is less than a month away, recently inquired with the wedding hall whether the originally contracted guaranteed number of 300 guests could be reduced to 50 due to the strengthened Level 2 social distancing measures.

The wedding hall responded that a penalty fee equivalent to 35% of the total cost must be paid for the 250-person meal reduction.

Mr. B from Saha-gu, whose wedding is scheduled for this weekend, planned to invite 50 guests. When Mr. B asked the wedding hall about costs to provide return gifts instead of meals, he was told that meal tickets must be purchased for the contracted number of guests.

As wedding-related consumer consultations continued without pause, Busan City has actively engaged in resolving consumer disputes by operating a reception center at the Busan Consumer Life Center since the 21st.

When consumers request consultations at the Busan Consumer Life Center, disputes between businesses and consumers are resolved through mediation. If the business does not accept the mediation, professional arbitration is provided through an application for damage relief to the Korea Consumer Agency.

If the dispute is not resolved through mediation, an application for adjustment will be submitted to the Consumer Dispute Mediation Committee, and the case will be reviewed by the Busan branch of the Consumer Dispute Mediation Committee for adjustment.

The application target is Busan citizens who have signed contracts with wedding halls in Busan, and consumers wishing to apply should submit the wedding contract and details of the damage to the Busan Consumer Life Center.

Lee Yoon-jae, Director of the Civil and Labor Policy Bureau of Busan City, said, “We empathize that wedding businesses are also facing many difficulties in management due to COVID-19, but given the serious situation where we must overcome the infectious disease crisis, it is unreasonable for consumers to bear all the damages.” He added, “We will actively mediate so that both wedding industry workers and consumers can coexist.”

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