Korea National Park Service is launching a "forest wedding" support program for couples burdened by soaring ceremony costs. The program provides wedding facilities and services free of charge, excluding optional expenses such as catering and return gifts.
Korea National Park Service announced on the 5th that it will implement the "2026 National Park Forest Wedding Support" program. The initiative aims to ease the financial burden on young people caused by high-cost wedding culture and promote eco-friendly marriage customs.
Selected couples can use outdoor wedding venues within national parks at no cost. Services covering overall ceremony operations, including venue decoration, attire support, and wedding photography, will also be provided. Couples only need to cover personal choice items such as meal costs and return gifts. Significant cost savings are expected compared to conventional weddings.
The agency has also focused on improving accessibility. Dedicated wedding spaces have been newly established at major eco-tourism centers including Bukhansan, Gyeryongsan, and Mudeungsan. Options have been expanded with facilities available at 11 national parks nationwide.
Eligibility requires at least one member of the couple to be a Korean citizen aged 19 to 45. A total of 50 couples will be selected on a first-come, first-served basis. Those identified as vulnerable groups will receive additional eco-tourism benefits. Applications open on the 16th through the Korea National Park Service reservation website.
Meanwhile, wedding costs are rising steeply. According to contract prices by wedding timing compiled by the Korea Consumer Agency, the median price for wedding hall reservations this month was 16.55 million won. This represents a 28% increase in just two months from 11.9 million won in January. Prices are expected to rise to the 17 million won range during the peak wedding season of April and May. Median booking costs for studios, dresses, and makeup for wedding photography were also surveyed at 2.8 million won in March and 2.89 million won in April.
The overall cost burden of marriage is even greater. A survey by matchmaking company Duo of 1,000 newlyweds who married within the past two years found average total wedding costs of 381.13 million won. Housing purchases or jeonse deposits accounted for most of this at 322.01 million won.
Among wedding preparation costs excluding housing, wedding hall expenses (37.2%) were cited as the most burdensome item. This was followed by wedding gifts (33.8%), honeymoon (19.6%), engagement gifts (3.1%), wedding packages (2.1%), and ceremonial gifts for in-laws (1.5%). Responses citing wedding gift burdens decreased slightly, while honeymoon-related cost burdens increased.
Perceptions of small weddings were positive. 91.9% of respondents answered favorably about small weddings. The expected cost averaged 8.95 million won, about 10 million won lower than current average wedding costs. 59.6% of respondents said they would "reduce wedding costs if they could prepare for marriage again."
"This forest wedding program is a public service linking the benefits of national park nature with marriage, an important life milestone for citizens," said Joo Dae-young, Chairman of Korea National Park Service. "We will do our best to support young people facing marriage so they can make special vows in nature without worrying about costs."