Busan is good

82.2 Percent of Citizens Willing to Use or Recommend Public Wedding Halls

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Busan Metropolitan City Actively Promotes “My Love, My Wedding”

Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced the results of the “Busan Citizens’ Awareness Survey on Wedding Culture,” conducted to create a city where it is easier and more meaningful to get married.

The city, in cooperation with the Busan Healthy Family Support Center, conducted an online survey from August 25 to September 7 to gather citizens’ opinions on perceptions of wedding culture, awareness of public wedding halls, and ideas for revitalization. The survey was carried out to promote a reasonable and value-oriented wedding culture and to encourage the use of public wedding halls.

A total of 2,843 Busan citizens responded to the survey, and the main findings are as follows:

• ●The average satisfaction level with the current wedding culture (procedures, costs, etc.) was 3.1 out of 5.

• ●Awareness of public wedding halls in Busan was relatively high, with 2,305 respondents (81.1%) saying they were aware of them.

• ●2,338 respondents (82.2%) expressed their willingness to use or recommend public wedding halls in the future.

The primary reasons for intending to use public wedding halls included reasonable costs and a reduction in unnecessary extravagance. On the other hand, 17.8 percent (505 respondents) said they were reluctant to use public wedding halls due to low expectations regarding the ceremony atmosphere or social perceptions, indicating the need for improvement measures to increase utilization rates.

Popular locations recommended by citizens for public weddings included seaside venues such as Dongbaekseom Island (Haeundae), Gwangalli, and Taejongdae, as well as other public spaces like Busan City Hall, North Port Waterfront Park, and Samnak Ecological Park.

Meanwhile, on the weekend of October 18–19, Busan Metropolitan City hosted special wedding ceremonies under the “My Love, My Wedding” initiative at the public wedding hall in Busan Citizens Park. Four couples, who applied for wedding support due to financial difficulties or special circumstances, held meaningful ceremonies. The weddings were organized by the Busan Healthy Family Support Center and sponsored by KB Kookmin Bank as part of its corporate social responsibility program.

The four selected couples—chosen through a public contest held in August—celebrated the most special moments of their lives with their families and citizens in attendance. Their stories included:

• ●A local couple escaping a factory-style ceremony for “a wedding that reflects who we are,” joined by their pet dog.

• ●A couple who had “waited nine years” to finally hold their wedding.

• ●A young teacher and a social worker beginning their new life together in “a hopeful new start.”

• ●A global couple holding “a meaningful ceremony” at a place special to their relationship.

One of the brides, Ms. Kim, from the “Our Own Wedding” couple, shared her gratitude, saying, “I’ve dreamed of my own wedding since I was young. Getting married in such a beautiful place today has been a huge encouragement for us. We will live with a heart full of gratitude and generosity.”

Busan Metropolitan City plans to further expand the “My Love, My Wedding” program by continuing to discover and open additional public facilities as wedding venues, beyond the current 11 existing public wedding halls.

(“My Love, My Wedding” is a policy brand designed to promote a city that supports marriage, including the revitalization of public wedding halls.)

In March of this year, the city added the Dong-gu Ibagu Complex Culture and Sports Center as a new public wedding hall and plans to designate additional venues recommended by citizens.

To provide comprehensive information and expert consulting services—from planning to execution—for couples preparing for public weddings, the city will collaborate with two partner organizations, Green Wedding Forum and G&G House Co., Ltd., to create wedding spaces with Busan’s unique charm.

Furthermore, Busan Metropolitan City will continue to foster a “city favorable for marriage” by implementing programs such as the “Small Wedding Support Project,” which reimburses up to 1 million won for actual wedding expenses (such as decoration, venue rental, and photography), and by expanding the Pre-marital Health Check-up Program for engaged couples.

Director General of the Women and Family Bureau, Park Seol-yeon, stated, “Our city is promoting the ‘My Love, My Wedding’ initiative so that young people preparing for marriage can hold meaningful and valuable ceremonies without financial burden. We hope public wedding halls will no longer be seen as merely low-cost options but will become symbols of a rational and value-oriented wedding culture. We ask for active interest and participation from citizens and young people alike.”