"Meeting 100 People and Buying Meals and Drinks, My Weekends Are Gone"... Bride-to-Be Exhausted by Cheongmo Gatherings

The Belief That "Meeting in Person Shows Sincerity" Persists
Debate Among Online Users Continues

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The culture of hosting a 'wedding invitation gathering,' commonly referred to as 'Cheongmo,' where couples about to get married meet friends and acquaintances to treat them to a meal and deliver invitations in person, has become a source of online controversy after a bride-to-be voiced her frustration.

On May 12, a post titled "Recruiting Members for the Anti-Cheongmo (Wedding Invitation Gathering) Movement Community" appeared on an online forum. Ms. A, a bride-to-be with about a month left before her wedding, opened up about the real-life difficulties of wedding preparations, saying, "I'm juggling Cheongmo gatherings, dieting, and work, and I'm on the verge of a mental breakdown."

Ms. A emphasized, "It's absolutely not because I don't want to spend money. I know that weddings are inherently expensive." She lamented, "But who on earth came up with this culture of meeting nearly 100 people one by one in the months leading up to the wedding, treating them to meals and drinks?"

She went on to say, "Although the term 'Cheongmo' sounds cute, in reality it puts a physical, time, and financial burden on the engaged couple." She also complained, "These days, even a single meal can cost 100,000 won, and there's now this mindset that you have to 'give back even more than what you receive.'"

She added, "I go to work on weekdays, spend my weekends doing Cheongmo gatherings, eat salads and exercise the next day to lose swelling, and then head out to yet another Cheongmo. I am draining both money and energy, and my weekends as an office worker have disappeared. I honestly wonder if this is normal."

Ms. A also raised questions about the current culture surrounding weddings themselves. She suggested, "Wouldn't it be more reasonable to have everyone meet and truly celebrate together on the wedding day itself, followed by a big after-party? Let's do away with Cheongmo and instead create a culture of after-parties at weddings."

Reactions from online users were mixed.

Some agreed with Ms. A, saying, "Even if you don't do Cheongmo, those who want to come will come," and, "The problem is the culture itself, which has become a form of social pressure."

On the other hand, others responded critically, saying, "You can just skip Cheongmo, but don't expect guests in return," and, "If you're meeting up with 100 people, isn't that partly your own desire as well?"

In the past, handing out paper invitations in person was considered a sign of sincerity, and it also served as a chance to reconnect with people after a long time.

Recently, mobile wedding invitations have become the norm, but the perception that sincerity requires meeting in person still lingers. Combined with the wedding custom of having to reciprocate as much as you have received, this has effectively become an established convention.

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