South Korean wedding hall contract prices rise 11% in one year

The average contract amount for wedding halls in South Korea has risen by 11.3% over the past year, reaching 17.88 million won as of October. According to data from the Korea Consumer Agency, this increase significantly outweighs a slight decrease in the costs of 'SDM' (studio, dress, and makeup) services.

When combining wedding hall contracts with SDM services, the total average cost reached 21.12 million won, an 8.5% increase from the previous year. Projections suggest this total could rise to 22.14 million won by October next year.

Rising meal costs are also placing a burden on wedding guests. In Seoul, the median cost per person for wedding meals rose to 80,000 won, up from 77,000 won last year. In the Gangnam area, average meal costs have already entered the 90,000 won range. This trend has sparked discussions in online communities regarding the increasing pressure on guests to provide higher congratulatory gifts to cover meal expenses.