Gov't will require wedding shops to disclose prices starting next year

The government plans to implement an open price system for wedding businesses to address overcharging and undisclosed fees. The plan includes expanding disclosure requirements and allowing museums and art galleries to be used as wedding venues.

A wedding dress shop located in Ahyeon-dong, Seodaemun District in western Seoul on March 16, 2023. [NEWS1]

The government will adopt an open price system for wedding businesses to reduce the often unreasonable prices imposed on consumers.

Details of the agenda, including the categories of vendor that will be obligated to disclose prices and required disclosure methods will be introduced later this year.

Businesses subject to the system include wedding photo studios as well as dress and makeup shops.

In Korea, couples often pay for a wedding package that includes photos as well as dress and tuxedo rentals, makeup and hair for both the wedding day and photo sessions. Service providers often encourage couples to do business with their affiliates.

Business often attempt to levy additional charges on young and uninformed couples that were not previously disclosed.

For instance, photo studios charge extra for digital files of their photos, while dress shops demand “fitting costs” from brides to cover the various items they might try on.

As a measure to mitigate against such overcharges, the government plans to begin disclosing additional information about the industry's pricing on the Korea Consumer Agency's price disclosure website starting next year. It did not specify which or how many details will be posted.

It also plans to expand the scope of standardized contracts from the current matchmaking and wedding venue industries to wedding preparation service providers, as damages often occur in such sectors when contracts have content leading to unfair exemptions and overcharges for breach of contract.

The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, in 2026, will begin conducting a regular survey investigating the cost, damage and current status of the wedding industry, including wedding planners, wedding planners, dress rental services, photographers and venue reservation services.

The government will allow museums and art galleries to be used as wedding venues, in addition to the 120 public facilities already available.

Museums such as the National Museum of Korea in Yongsan District, central Seoul; National Folk Museum of Korea in Jongno District, central Seoul; and the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi, will be opened as public wedding halls.

“We focused on selecting areas where it is set outdoors, or the youth can customize the place, unlike private wedding halls,” a Finance Ministry official said.

BY CHOI SEO-IN, KIM JI-YE [kim.jiye@joongang.co.kr]