"Feeling Hurt by Close Friend Who Sent Gift Money Minus Meal Cost"... What Are People Saying Online?

Friend Sends Only Amount Excluding Meal Cost After Declining Invitation

"Should Have Given More" vs. "It Depends on One's Situation"—Opinions Divided

A story has surfaced about a bride-to-be who, despite having given a congratulatory cash gift of 200,000 won at her friend's wedding in the past, received only half that amount—100,000 won—from the same friend for her own upcoming wedding. She expressed her disappointment over the situation.

Recently, a post titled "After Announcing My Wedding, My Friend Says She Can't Come" appeared on an online community. The author, Ms. A, who identified herself as a woman in her mid-thirties, shared, "As the last one among my friends to get married, I'm upset because it feels like my long-standing friendship is starting to crack."

Ms. A explained, "Except for a few friends who have no intention of getting married, I'm almost the last one to tie the knot. Throughout the years, I never missed any of my friends' weddings, and especially for those I considered close, I offered a generous congratulatory gift out of genuine happiness for them."

The photo is not directly related to the content of this article. Pixabay

However, one friend contacted her shortly before the wedding, saying that an urgent issue had come up and that she would not be able to attend. Ms. A admitted, "Honestly, I felt disappointed."

What stung even more was not just the friend's absence, but the amount of the cash gift. Ms. A said, "I gave her 200,000 won for her wedding in the past, but she only transferred 100,000 won to me this time. When I told other friends about it, many thought she simply sent the amount excluding the meal cost."

She continued, "If it were me, I would have sent at least as much as I received, if not more, out of a sense of guilt for not being able to attend. Remembering how sincerely I celebrated her marriage makes it all the more upsetting."

Ms. A eventually expressed her disappointment directly to her friend. She said, "When I honestly told her how I felt, my friend explained that she absolutely could not make it due to an in-law family event, and regarding the gift amount, she said she sent it after deducting the meal cost."

Nonetheless, Ms. A decided not to escalate the matter any further. She added, "I know my friend has a child and that her circumstances aren't easy, so I couldn't bring myself to say more. Still, no matter how much I try to understand, I can't help but feel bitter."

After the story became known, there was a wide range of reactions online. Some commenters said, "Usually, when you can't go to a wedding, you tend to give even more out of guilt," "If you were truly close, basic etiquette would be to give at least as much as you received," and "Cancelling at the last minute even after confirming in advance makes it seem like she never intended to come in the first place."

On the other hand, there were opinions that "The culture of weddings itself has become burdensome these days," and "Ultimately, you should give congratulatory money according to your own circumstances," showing empathy for the friend's situation. In particular, many noted that concerns over the appropriate amount of congratulatory gifts have increased recently, as meal and transportation costs for weddings have become more significant burdens.

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