Pre-wedding 'Seudeume' Power Abuse Hurting Couples, Fair Trade Commission Launches Ex Officio Investigation

High-Level Population Emergency Measures Meeting

As part of efforts to strengthen responses to the rapidly declining birthrate issue, plans are underway to elevate the Low Birthrate and Aging Society Committee to a formal government department. The photo shows government officials arriving at the Government Seoul Office Building on the 10th. Photo by Jo Yongjun jun21@

The Fair Trade Commission will launch an ex officio investigation into unfair trade practices by studio, dress, and makeup (so-called ‘Seudeume’) companies. Based on industry market research and consumer damage surveys, it plans to initiate related legislation in the future.

On the 29th, the government held the 2nd Emergency Population Countermeasure Meeting of the Low Birthrate and Aging Society Committee and announced these measures. First, regarding wedding preparation services known as Seudeume, the Fair Trade Commission will begin an ex officio investigation next month.

There have been growing complaints and calls for system improvements from prospective couples due to excessive penalty charges, bundled ancillary services, and opaque pricing information in various services related to weddings such as Seudeume.

The Fair Trade Commission will first review the terms and conditions of wedding preparation agencies and conduct industry status and consumer damage surveys to improve unfair terms. Based on this, it plans to establish standard terms and conditions for the wedding preparation agency sector in the first quarter of next year.

Additionally, to help consumers during wedding preparations, it will distribute consumer damage prevention guidelines and issue a ‘Consumer Damage Advisory’ based on analysis of consultation and dispute mediation cases related to the wedding service market.

On the 25th, Han Ki-jung, Chairman of the Fair Trade Commission, said at a press briefing, "Consumer damages such as additional charges related to wedding preparations and excessive penalty fees are increasing," adding, "We will promptly establish standard terms and conditions to prevent consumer damages related to contracts in the wedding preparation agency sector and strengthen damage prevention."

The Fair Trade Commission plans to disclose the current prices of wedding services and items through the Korea Consumer Agency’s price information site ‘Chamgagaek’ to address hidden cost issues, and regularly survey and publish consumer perception indicators of the wedding preparation market (price appropriateness, variety of choices, reliability, etc.).

Chairman Han explained, "We will distribute the ‘Consumer Damage Prevention Guidelines’ in formats familiar to the younger generation such as short-form videos and card news, and issue a ‘Consumer Damage Advisory’ including frequent damage cases and contract precautions in a timely manner before the year-end wedding season."

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