Wedding Gift Money Tops 100,000 Won for First Time in Korea

The average amount of wedding gift money sent via mobile transfer has exceeded 100,000 won ($70) for the first time, according to new data.

Kakao Pay's "2025 Money Report," released Monday and based on analysis of annual transfer data, showed that the average wedding gift sent through its platform surpassed 100,000 won. The figure has doubled in just five years from an average of 50,000 won in 2019.

The increase is attributed to changing social norms, rising wedding costs, and the widespread adoption of mobile payment culture.

According to Kakao Pay, approximately 1.4 million friend-to-friend transfers are made daily through KakaoTalk. On average, each user sends or receives money about eight times per month, reflecting how mobile transfers have become a standard payment method in daily life. Related data has shown steady year-over-year growth.

This year's personalized transfer report was designed to help users review their own payment patterns and those of their social circle. The report automatically analyzes data to provide "intimacy indicators," identifying the friend who sent the largest amount, the first person a user transferred money to, the fastest friend to settle group expenses, and the friend who shared the most gift envelopes.

The bill-splitting feature was most frequently used on Sundays, followed by Fridays and Mondays. On average, all settlements were completed within 8 hours and 29 minutes after a request was made.

The 2025 Money Report also includes statistics on the busiest days for transfers and the most active open chat payment groups, offering insights into public spending and settlement habits.