"Urban Public Weddings for Just 10,000 Won Open at Gwangju City Venues"

City Lawn Plaza, Citizen Hall, and Rose Park Opened as Wedding Venues
10,000 Won Per Day for Outdoor Spaces, 10,000 Won for Two Hours Indoors

Simple Reception Meals Like Noodles for 5,000 Won Reduce Costs
Eligibility Expands to Jeonnam Residents Starting in May

Public spaces in downtown Gwangju, such as the lawn plaza and Citizen Hall at Gwangju City Hall and Rose Park, are being utilized as wedding venues. These so-called "urban public weddings," which can be held for as little as 10,000 won per day, are emerging as a new option for engaged couples seeking alternatives amid soaring wedding costs and the pressure of "weddingflation."

Since last year, Gwangju Metropolitan City has opened public spaces, including the City Hall lawn plaza, the first-floor Citizen Hall, and Rose Park, to citizens as wedding venues.

The usage fee is 10,000 won per day for outdoor spaces such as plazas, and 10,000 won for two hours for indoor spaces (excluding heating and cooling costs). Essential amenities such as parking, restrooms, and electricity are provided, while applicants can prepare their own wedding decorations and accessories, such as floral arrangements and tables, to customize their ceremonies.

Simple meals can also be arranged using the building's cafeteria. For example, a noodle meal can be provided for about 5,000 won per person, helping to reduce the cost of the wedding reception, and outdoor catering is also permitted. A contingency system allows for the event to be moved indoors in case of inclement weather.

Wedding reservations can be made up to six months in advance of the desired date, and bookings are limited to one event per day. Reservations can be made in person at the Gwangju City General Affairs Division, by phone, or through the Gongyoonuri online portal. However, schedules may be adjusted depending on public safety and event operations.

In fact, "Garden of Light" at City Hall hosted eight weddings last year, with guest counts ranging from 100 to 400. Inquiries regarding the program continue this year as well.

Gwangju City plans to further open these spaces, focusing on weekends and holidays, so more engaged couples can hold weddings in natural urban settings. In addition, with the launch of the unified Jeonnam-Gwangju Metropolitan City scheduled for July, eligibility will expand to residents of Jeonnam Province starting in May.

Other public wedding venue options are also available at places such as the Gwangju Human Resources Development Institute's Welfare Hall and the Mudeungsan Ecological Exploration Center, gradually increasing the range of choices.

Meanwhile, Gwangju's wedding service costs are the fifth highest among all regions nationwide, and the rate of increase ranks third, further burdening soon-to-be-wed couples. According to the Ministry of Data and Statistics, as of January 2026, Gwangju recorded 548 marriages, up 6.6% year-on-year, and 704 births, a 14.7% increase from the same month the previous year.

Moon Gil-sang, Director of the Gwangju City General Affairs Division, stated, "We hope that 'Garden of Light' will become a practical alternative for engaged couples struggling with rising wedding costs," adding, "We will continue to promote a rational wedding culture by utilizing public resources."