"Check Sdeume Prices in Advance"... Government Issues Wedding Service Consumer Damage Prevention Advisory

Disputes Over Contract Cancellation Penalties Dominate at 82.4%
Government Recommends Checking Regional Price Information for Optional Items Online

With the arrival of the peak spring wedding season, consumer complaints related to wedding services have surged, prompting the government to issue a warning to prospective couples about the risks of "blind contracts." In particular, disputes over cancellation penalties account for more than 80% of all complaints, underscoring the need for careful review before signing contracts.

Seongnam Solomon Wedding Garden Saemaeul Movement Central Training Center Wedding. The Asia Business Daily DB.

The Fair Trade Commission, the Korea Consumer Agency, and the Presidential Committee on Ageing Society and Population Policy announced on April 22 that they have issued a "Wedding Service Consumer Damage Prevention Advisory" in anticipation of concentrated demand for weddings during April and May.

According to the Korea Consumer Agency, the number of damage relief applications related to wedding services increased by 18.9%, from 905 cases in 2024 to 1,076 cases in 2025. Notably, during the wedding peak season of April and May, the number of cases surged by 56.0% compared to the same period of the previous year, indicating that losses are heavily concentrated among prospective couples.

By type of damage, disputes related to "contract cancellation penalties and withdrawal of subscription" were overwhelming, accounting for 95.5% of all cases. Breaking this down further, contract cancellation penalties made up 82.4%, followed by non-fulfillment of contract (7.4%) and withdrawal of subscription (5.7%). This is largely attributed to cases where consumers sign contracts without being fully informed about additional costs or refund policies and are later faced with excessive cancellation penalties.

To prevent unfair losses, the government has recommended that consumers actively use the "Chamgagyeok" website (www.price.go.kr) operated by the Korea Consumer Agency. This site provides regional price information not only for meal and venue fees, but also for 67 optional items including studio, dress, and makeup (commonly known as "Steume") packages.

It is also advantageous to choose companies that use the "Standard Terms and Conditions for Wedding Planning Agencies" prepared by the Fair Trade Commission. Companies that adopt these standard terms restrict separate charges for essential services (such as photo file purchases and dress fitting fees) and clearly disclose the conditions for imposing cancellation penalties.

It is important to note that contracts signed at external venues or wedding fairs—outside of the main wedding hall—can be withdrawn within 14 days without penalty under the Act on Door-to-Door Sales, etc. Even if a company refuses a refund on the grounds of a promotional discount, consumers are still legally protected.

With the implementation of the "Wedding Service Price Disclosure System," the government plans to strengthen on-site inspections and impose fines of up to 100 million won on businesses that violate the regulations.

Vice Chairman Kim Jin-oh of the Presidential Committee on Ageing Society and Population Policy stated, "We will work to enhance transparency and fairness in the wedding service market so that young people can alleviate cost concerns and plan for the future with greater stability."

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