"Do We Have to Postpone Again?" Soon-to-Be-Married Couples Face Distress Over Social Distancing Tightening

Surge in Wedding Service Consultations in August (2,272 Cases)
Experts: "Active Negotiation Between Parties Needed to Resolve Disputes"

It has been revealed that consumer consultations related to wedding services have surged due to the resurgence of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Su-wan] As social distancing measures have been strengthened due to the resurgence of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), the number of people allowed to gather inside wedding halls has been limited, causing engaged couples to be distressed. Currently, disputes over cancellation fees due to wedding cancellations or postponements are rapidly increasing under these guidelines.

The government has proposed amendments to the cancellation fee dispute resolution standards to exempt or reduce cancellation fees if weddings or ceremonies are postponed or canceled due to infectious diseases like COVID-19, but disputes at the field level continue unabated.

On the 6th, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun announced in his opening remarks at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) meeting held at Seoul City Hall, "The metropolitan area will be raised to social distancing level 2.5."

Accordingly, from 0:00 on the 8th, when social distancing level 2.5 is applied, the maximum number of participants allowed at gatherings and events such as weddings, commemorations, and briefings held in the metropolitan area will be strengthened from fewer than 100 people to fewer than 50 people for three weeks. In particular, for wedding halls, the number of guests including the bride and groom, excluding staff, is limited to 49 people.

As a result, engaged couples planning to marry this month are complaining about damages caused by the repeatedly changing regulations.

On various online communities, prospective grooms and brides lamented, "We had already postponed several times and decided to get married in mid-December, but everything got messed up due to the strengthened social distancing," "We booked based on 100 people; what will happen now?" and "The wedding hall said they would check and get back to us, but it feels like a bolt from the blue right before the ceremony."

Usually, wedding hall reservations are made with a minimum guaranteed number of 100 to 200 guests, and even if fewer guests attend, the contracted amount is charged. Even if the number of guests is reduced and the wedding proceeds, the engaged couples inevitably suffer financial losses.

Given this situation, the number of consumer consultations related to this issue has also surged. According to the Korea Consumer Agency in September, a total of 63,540 consultations were received at the 1372 Consumer Counseling Center in August, a 3.8% increase compared to the previous month. In particular, consultations related to wedding services (2,272 cases) surged by 507.5% compared to the previous month.

Analyzing by reason for consultation, contract cancellation and cancellation fees accounted for the largest share at 27.6%, followed by quality and A/S related issues (26.1%), and contract non-fulfillment (12.9%).

Regarding this, the Korea Consumer Agency and the Korea Consumer Organization Council explained, "Due to the resurgence of COVID-19 and the strengthening of social distancing, there were many disputes over cancellation fees between consumers and businesses wishing to reduce guaranteed numbers or postpone schedules."

Conflicts over cancellation fees between engaged couples and wedding halls have been triggered by the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). Photo by Yonhap News

As noise related to wedding services due to COVID-19 continues, the Fair Trade Commission prepared grounds for exemption and reduction of cancellation fees considering the risk level of infectious disease occurrence, government measures, and the possibility of contract fulfillment.

The amendment allows contract cancellation without cancellation fees if administrative orders such as facility closure or suspension of operations are issued due to an infectious disease outbreak, or if the wedding area or the user's residential area is declared a special disaster zone making contract fulfillment impossible.

Also, if administrative orders such as gathering restrictions are issued, or if it is difficult to fulfill the contract due to quarantine rule compliance recommendations following a serious stage declaration, the contract contents can be changed or cancellation fees reduced without penalty.

However, despite these efforts, conflicts between businesses and engaged couples remain. Recently, petitions titled "COVID-19 Level 2+a Wedding Hall Capacity Restrictions Are Too Unfair and Unjust" and "Relief for Damages Due to Wedding Capacity Restrictions Caused by COVID-19" have been posted consecutively on the Blue House National Petition Board.

A petitioner who identified herself as a bride-to-be with a wedding this month said, "The government suddenly announced policies regarding weddings and said the grace period would only apply to ceremonies held this week," adding, "The wedding halls are citing contracts and industry practices to avoid losses and are forcing consumers to bear losses of millions of won."

She continued, "The financial loss of millions of won that no one considers, the loss forced under the name of the wedding protagonist, is several months' salary for ordinary people," and urged, "(The government) should force wedding halls to reduce guaranteed numbers for weddings and compensate for the losses."

Experts advised that active consultation between parties is necessary to resolve disputes related to wedding services.

Song Sang-min, Director of Consumer Policy Bureau at the Fair Trade Commission, appeared on YTN Radio's 'Saengsaeng Economy' and said, "It is usually difficult to predict the number of guests attending a wedding hall, so the wedding hall requests the hosts to confirm a minimum guaranteed number when signing the contract," pointing out, "In this process, even if fewer guests than the minimum guaranteed number attend and have meals, consumers must pay the wedding hall for the guaranteed number of meals."

He added, "After consulting with the wedding industry association for problem resolution, if the hosts request to readjust or reduce the minimum guaranteed number, the wedding halls have been asked to respond more actively and find reasonable solutions."

He also advised, "Consumers should first carefully check the reservation cancellation and cancellation fee clauses in the contract, promptly decide on cancellation or postponement to minimize damage," and "If the business imposes cancellation fees without basis in the terms or excessively high fees, consumers should refer to the consumer dispute standards operated by the Fair Trade Commission for negotiation. If resolution between parties is difficult, it is advisable to request consultation at the 1372 Consumer Counseling Center."

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