SEOUL — The average cost of wedding services in South Korea has reached approximately 21 million won (US$15,262), with expenses in the capital area significantly outpacing those in other regions, according to a new industry report released Wednesday.
The Korea Consumer Agency’s latest analysis, based on 5,000 contracts from 370 wedding venues and 1,814 package deals from 152 wedding service providers, revealed that the average total expenditure for weddings—including venue rentals, meals, photography, dress, and makeup—stood at 21.01 million won.
Seoul’s upscale Gangnam district topped the list with the highest average wedding cost at 34.09 million won. This was followed by other parts of Seoul at 28.15 million won, Gyeonggi Province at 18.75 million won, and Incheon at 18.34 million won.
Venue rentals accounted for a significant portion of wedding expenses, with the median cost recorded at 15.55 million won. Gangnam venues were the priciest, averaging 31.3 million won, while Busan offered the most affordable options, with a median cost of 8.15 million won.
Meal services represented the largest share of venue-related costs, with the median price per guest reaching 58,000 won.
April emerged as the most expensive month for booking wedding venues, with average rental fees peaking at 17.25 million won. It was followed by March, May, and June.
The report also noted that most couples—about 55.3 percent—secured their venue reservations between 12 and 18 months ahead of their wedding dates.
