This Year’s 'World Cup Park Eco-Friendly Wedding' Registration Begins

Eco-friendly Weddings with Minimal Floral Decorations and Lunchbox Receptions

[Asia Economy Reporter Kiho Sung] The Seoul Western Park Leisure Center announced on the 6th that it is accepting applications on an ongoing basis until October 13 for engaged couples who wish to hold the 2023 'Sopung Wedding' at the Peace Park within World Cup Park.

World Cup Park is a landfill-type ecological park that has been operating the 'Sopung Wedding' since 2015 to promote eco-friendly park culture, having held a total of 67 weddings. It is perfect for enjoying a picnic-like ceremony with family, relatives, and other precious people on the park's vast lawn.

The 'Sopung Wedding' aims for an environmentally friendly ceremony by refraining from one-time flower decorations and using reusable containers instead of disposable items for the reception (such as lunch boxes and non-heated food). Recently, as interest in the environment has expanded, more engaged couples seeking meaningful weddings have shown interest. Last year's second half ceremonies included a total of 8 couples, conducting environmentally conscious weddings from soybean oil printing and mobile invitations to lunch box receptions. Among them, 6 couples donated to a tree-planting fund to offset the carbon emissions inevitably generated by the ceremony.

Additionally, engaged couples can plan the wedding themselves, allowing for a unique ceremony at a low cost. In fact, among couples holding Sopung Weddings, some simplify unnecessary procedures such as officiants and traditional rituals, replacing them with parents' congratulatory speeches, and prepare wedding attire that can be used as casual wear. The average total cost of the Sopung Wedding (including the reception) held at World Cup Park last year was about 10 million KRW, which is relatively cheaper than typical wedding costs.

Anyone where at least one of the engaged couple is a Seoul citizen (by residence or workplace) can apply for the Sopung Wedding. Weddings held from February to November this year can be applied for from January 6 to October 13, and detailed information on the ceremony content, application methods, and procedures can be found on the 'Seoul’s Parks' website.

Lee Yongnam, Director of the Seoul Western Park Leisure Center, said, “We hope that engaged couples and guests can create special memories through the 'Sopung Wedding,' which emphasizes eco-friendly elements in harmony with the beautiful park scenery, and we ask for the active participation of interested citizens.”

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