"Non-Refundable" Wedding Preparation Damages Surge... Consumer Agency and Fair Trade Commission Issue Dispute Advisory

Advisory Issued for Peak Wedding Season
Consumers Urged to Carefully Review Contract Terms

The Korea Consumer Agency, the Korea Fair Trade Commission, and the Presidential Committee on Ageing Society and Population Policy announced on April 22 that they will issue a "Consumer Damage Prevention Advisory for Wedding Services" in order to support rational transactions for engaged couples during the spring wedding peak season, when demand for weddings is concentrated.

Wedding. Pixabay

According to the Korea Consumer Agency, the number of consumer damage relief claims related to wedding services increased by 18.9%, from 905 cases in 2024 to 1,076 cases in 2025. In particular, the number of cases in April and May rose by as much as 56.0% compared to the same period the previous year. The majority of reported damages (88.1%) involved disputes related to "contract termination, penalty fees, and withdrawal of subscription."

The main disputes are analyzed to occur when consumers sign contracts without sufficient prior information about detailed pricing, additional costs, and penalty criteria. Accordingly, the Korea Consumer Agency and the Korea Fair Trade Commission recommended that consumers visit the Consumer Agency's "Chamgagyeok" website to check prices in advance according to their budget before consulting with wedding service providers.

They further added that when selecting a provider, it is advisable to prioritize companies that use the "Standard Terms and Conditions for Wedding Preparation Agencies," which clearly state the base prices and penalty criteria for each service category—studio, dress, and makeup (Sdeume). In addition, they advised consumers to pay attention to advertisements that may mislead without objective grounds, and to make decisions only after thoroughly comparing information from various providers.

The Korea Fair Trade Commission plans to inspect whether the "Wedding Service Price Disclosure System"—which requires mandatory display of fee structures and refund criteria— is being properly implemented at service sites. Wedding service providers who fail to comply with the mandatory disclosure of important information may be subject to fines of up to 100 million won.

The Korea Consumer Agency has designated May and June as the "Concentrated Reporting Period for Wedding Service Damages" and urged consumers who experience damages during the use of wedding services to actively seek counseling and damage relief through the 1372 Consumer Counseling Center or the Consumer 24 website.

Kim Jino, Vice Chair of the Presidential Committee on Ageing Society and Population Policy, stated, "We will continue our efforts to enhance transparency and fairness in the wedding services market and to foster a social atmosphere where marriage and family formation can be viewed optimistically."

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