Firms failed to disclose prices for optional items, partner vendor details

Inspections launched after guidance period ended in May

Final fines to be confirmed by end of this month after comment period

Wedding venues and bridal service agencies that failed to properly disclose key information — including prices for optional items and cancellation penalty terms — are set to face administrative fines.

The Korea Fair Trade Commission said Friday it had confirmed violations by 17 businesses nationwide after inspecting compliance with its mandatory disclosure rules for the wedding services sector, and has begun proceedings to impose fines.

Prospective couples browse wedding dresses at a bridal fair. [Newsis]
Prospective couples browse wedding dresses at a bridal fair. [Newsis]

The action follows a focused inspection conducted after the guidance period for the mandatory disclosure rules ended in May. The Fair Trade Commission has been reviewing whether major wedding venues and bridal agencies have properly met their obligations to disclose pricing and cancellation terms since August.

Under the current rules, wedding venues and bridal service agencies must publish detailed information on their basic and optional service offerings, including itemized prices, as well as the penalties and refund terms that apply upon contract cancellation or termination. Businesses must post that information either on their own website or on the Korea Consumer Agency's "Chamgagyeok" price comparison platform, and must also include it on the cover page of contracts.

When services such as studio photography, dress rental and makeup are provided through partner vendors, businesses must separately disclose the service details and fees for each vendor. Where cancellation penalties or refund terms differ by vendor, those differences must also be clearly indicated.

The inspection found, however, that the 17 businesses had violated the rules — omitting prices for some optional items on their websites, the Chamgagyeok platform or contract cover pages, or failing to separately list key information for each partner vendor.

The Fair Trade Commission plans to finalize the fine amounts by the end of this month after a comment period of at least 10 days. The fines are administrative penalties for regulatory violations and differ in nature from surcharges, which are designed to recoup illicit gains or sanction unlawful conduct. The statutory ceiling for such fines is 100 million won ($74,200), though past cases in other industries have seen fines of several million won imposed after taking into account the severity of the violation.

Consumer complaints in the wedding services market have persisted, driven by rising costs — including catering fees at wedding halls — as well as reports of businesses demanding improper additional charges during studio, dress and makeup package bookings, and setting opaque cancellation and refund terms.

The Fair Trade Commission said the action sends a firm signal against non-transparent pricing and unjustified surcharges in the wedding services market, and helps ensure that couples planning their weddings can make informed choices. The commission said it will continue monitoring compliance with the disclosure rules to promote competition on quality and price among businesses and ease the financial burden on couples.


y2k@heraldcorp.com