Busan City Played a Valuable Mediator Role in 'COVID-19 Marriage Disputes'

Busan City Mediates 65 Marriage Disputes Due to COVID-19 'Social Distancing' Upgrade
‘Consumer Life Center’ Intervenes, Achieves 78% Mediation Success in 83 Complaints Within One Week

Busan City Hall.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] Since the escalation of social distancing measures, Busan City, which took early action to mediate disputes related to wedding reservations prone to conflicts, is playing a “fruitful problem solver” role.

According to Busan City on the 30th, from the 21st to the 27th, a total of 83 mediation requests related to wedding ceremonies were received at the Busan Consumer Life Center, of which 65 cases, accounting for 78%, were successfully mediated.

Through the city’s active mediation, consumers and businesses united in overcoming the difficult times caused by COVID-19 together.

The wedding-related mediation requests consisted of 73 cases related to ceremonies, 5 for accommodation, 2 for travel, and 3 others, totaling 83 cases. Notably, among the 73 wedding ceremony-related cases, 55 cases, or 75%, were mediated.

As social distancing was strengthened to Level 2 due to the nationwide spread of COVID-19, and consultations from engaged couples kept coming in, Busan City established and operated a dispute mediation center for ceremonies, dining, and accommodation on the 18th floor of City Hall starting from the 21st.

In a successful case, Mr. A from Geumjeong-gu could not postpone his son’s wedding scheduled for early September. However, since the minimum guaranteed number of guests was 160 at the time of contract, and the wedding guest limit was restricted to 49 or fewer due to COVID-19 measures, he faced a penalty fee.

Busan City mediated between both parties to reduce the minimum guaranteed number to 50 and replaced the penalty fee with buffet vouchers valid for two years.

The son, the wedding party, said, “The wedding company is also going through a very difficult time now, so I am grateful they agreed to mediate,” and added, “I was worried about having conflicts before such a happy occasion, but I am glad it was resolved amicably.”

A representative from Wedding Hall B located in Busanjin-gu told a Consumer Life Center counselor who contacted them for mediation, “These days, fewer people are having weddings, and we are suffering double hardships due to COVID-19,” and added, “Nevertheless, our wedding hall will reduce the minimum guaranteed number by 40% from the originally contracted number for all engaged couples until the end of social distancing Level 2, and replace the remaining number with buffet vouchers.”

However, there are also consumers who do not accept the city’s mediation proposals. One citizen claimed that since buffets cannot be used under social distancing Level 2, only the 300,000 KRW wedding hall rental fee set in the contract should be paid for the ceremony.

In response, the business stated, “If the buffet is not used, it is impossible given the wedding company’s profit structure,” and added, “Labor costs alone exceed 500,000 KRW,” expressing that the ceremony cannot proceed.

Kim, a professional counselor at the Busan Consumer Life Center, said, “We are busy every day with many consultation calls and dispute mediations, but I am amazed by the mature civic consciousness as parties make small concessions and reach amicable agreements.”

Yoon Jae Lee, Busan City’s Director of Civil Life and Labor Policy, said, “Although the city is actively mediating, it is very difficult to find a satisfactory mediation plan because all parties suffer damages.”

He added, “If people understand the severe quarantine situation and make small concessions while accepting the city’s proposed win-win solutions, we can wisely overcome the current social conflicts.”

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