"Reservation Wars Start from Pregnancy"... 12 Million Won First Birthday Party 'Palsun Exam' [Luxury World]

Fierce Competition for Hotel First Birthday Party Reservations
Only Four Parties Allowed Per Day: The "Open Run" Rush
Hundreds of Phone Calls Are the Norm
Costs Range from 2 Million to 12 Million Won
Hidden Expenses Include Table Setup

"I mobilized my entire family to book right when reservations opened, but we still failed. We'll try again next month."

Mr. A, a thirty-something office worker living in Seoul, recently attempted to book a first birthday party at a five-star hotel but failed repeatedly. He explained that competition is so fierce that several people have to log in or call at the same time to secure the desired date and time slot.

Despite prices ranging from a minimum of 2 million won to several tens of millions of won, the "reservation war" surrounding hotel first birthday parties is becoming increasingly intense. Major hotels open reservations for such events at a specific time two to three months in advance of the event date. Popular time slots, like weekends, are often fully booked immediately upon opening. In addition, the hotel industry raises prices at key food and beverage venues by 20–30% each year, yet securing a reservation remains as difficult as "catching a star in the sky."

An industry insider said, "In many cases, inquiries about first birthday parties start during pregnancy or right after childbirth," adding, "Especially for popular weekend time slots, you can assume they are fully booked the moment reservations open."

According to the hotel industry on April 5, the Chinese restaurant "Palsun" at The Shilla Seoul only accepts reservations for four parties per day. The event takes place in private rooms "Sharon" and "Selvia," with weekday rates set at 3.3 million won and 2.9 million won, respectively, while weekend and holiday rates rise to 4.5 million won and 3.75 million won. Due to limited seating and high demand, it is regarded as one of the most competitive venues to book. Especially on weekends, popular time slots are often fully booked within five minutes of reservations opening. The Shilla Seoul is also highly preferred among mothers preparing for first birthday parties, as the Yeongbingwan (guesthouse) allows for birthday photo shoots, further intensifying the reservation competition. This has led to the term "Palsun Exam" to describe the challenge of booking a first birthday party at Palsun.

Other hotels are similar. "Dorim" at Lotte Hotel Seoul opens reservations about three months before the event, with a minimum spending requirement of 2 million to 3 million won. Decorations and photo shoots must use external vendors, but there is no additional fee for bringing them in.

Hongyeon, a Chinese restaurant at The Westin Chosun Hotel, popular as a venue for first birthday parties. Chosun Hotel & Resort.

"Hongyeon" at The Westin Chosun Seoul only accepts phone reservations at 9 a.m. on the first day of every month, two months in advance. The minimum price is 1.7 million won for the Oolong Room and 2.6 million won for the Jasmine Room, and birthday decorations can be prepared at no extra charge even without a partner vendor.

Lotte Hotel and The Westin Chosun are popular for their reasonable prices, as they do not charge any additional fees for bringing in birthday decorations. The Westin Chosun is also highly preferred because it allows for first birthday photo shoots with the Hwangudan (Altar of Heaven) as a backdrop.

As you move to higher-end hotels, the costs and conditions become even greater. At "Bicena" in Signiel Seoul, the minimum charge is 3 million won for lunch and 3.8 million won for dinner. The dinner price was raised by 200,000 won as of March this year. For exclusive venue rentals, the cost increases to 8 million won for lunch and 12 million won for dinner. If you bring in external birthday decorations or setups, there is a 400,000 won fee, and an additional 100,000 won is charged for photo shoots.

Package products have also emerged. Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas offers packages that include meals, a cake, birthday decorations, and an emcee, with small-scale packages priced at around 5 million won and large-scale packages at around 10 million won.

Besides hotel usage fees, additional costs are significant. When you add decorations, hair and makeup, outfit rentals, photo shoots, and return gifts, the total cost typically comes to about 7 million to 8 million won.

Although the financial burden is high, the fierce competition for hotel first birthday party reservations is seen as a reflection of the "small luxury" trend that has arisen alongside low birth rates. According to the Ministry of Data and Statistics, the number of newborns in 2025 is expected to be 254,500. This is a slight increase from 238,000 in 2024, but it is still only about half of the OECD average total fertility rate of 1.4 (Korea's rate was 0.78 during the same period). As birth rates decline, parents are increasingly focusing their spending on a single child, resulting in growing demand to celebrate first birthdays in a special way.

This rising demand has become a new source of revenue for the hotel industry. Unlike wedding banquets, which see significant fluctuations in demand according to the season and are less accessible due to costs reaching hundreds of millions of won, first birthday parties are relatively small-scale events with high operational efficiency. Since hotels can increase turnover in set time slots and link revenue streams with food and beverage sales, these parties have become a stable "cash cow" for hotels. In fact, the industry is strengthening its commercialization efforts by launching first birthday party packages and operating separate reservation systems.

Consumers also view hotel first birthday parties as a rational choice. Compared to weddings, which cost hundreds of millions of won, these events allow families to experience five-star hotel spaces, services, and setups at a much lower cost. The appeal is further increased by the private, luxurious atmosphere that comes from holding a small family event. Industry insiders say this trend reflects "the concentration of premium spending on first birthday parties instead of weddings."

Another hotel industry official explained, "Weddings are expensive and come with many scheduling restrictions, but first birthday parties can be held on a smaller scale while still enjoying the hotel experience, so demand continues to rise. For hotels, these events are an important revenue source, as they boost both room and food and beverage sales."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.