“Getting Married on the 28th in Wangsimni, Looking for Guests” — Guest-Sharing Posts Spread in Open Chat Rooms

Hagaek Pumasi Spreads in Open Chat Rooms and Online Communities
Seoul Meal Price at 80,000 Won, Minimum Headcount Set at 200
"Filling Each Other’s Seats Without Compensation"

The practice of "Hageok Poomasi," where engaged couples with a limited number of acquaintances become each other's wedding guests, is spreading online.

According to Yonhap News on September 10, posts seeking partners for poomasi are increasingly appearing on KakaoTalk open chat rooms and wedding preparation communities. Typical messages include, "Getting married in Wangsimni, Seoul on the 28th. Looking for someone to help fill seats."

Wedding image to help understand the article. Pixabay

In open chat rooms with hundreds of members, couples share their wedding schedules, locations, and the number of guests needed, then finalize participation through direct messages. Details such as whether a meal is provided or a dress code is required are discussed in advance. In some cases, a small group of engaged couples pair up and attend each other's ceremonies, while in others, people are recruited online solely for one-off events. Those who take turns attending to help fill seats are referred to among participants as "Matpoom" (poomasi partners). Participants act just like ordinary guests: they attend the wedding, offer congratulations, and even take group photos. Sometimes, specific roles—such as friends, colleagues, or relatives—are agreed upon beforehand.

There are various reasons why people seek hageok poomasi. Common cases include having few acquaintances in Korea because family members live overseas, or holding a wedding at a later age and feeling hesitant to invite acquaintances. According to data from the Ministry of Data and Statistics, last year the average age at first marriage was 33.9 years for men and 31.6 years for women, an increase of 1.3 years and 1.6 years respectively over the past decade. Changing jobs or moving can also make it difficult to gather guests due to fragmented personal networks. Kim (34), who participated in poomasi twice last year, told Yonhap News, "I didn't have many friends to invite as guests, so I started poomasi. It was nice to connect with others who had similar concerns and offer mutual support."

Minimum Guarantee of 200 Guests... In Seoul, Meal Fees Alone Reach 16 Million Won

Screen showing the search for 'Hagek Pumasi' in the KakaoTalk open chat room. KakaoTalk

The number of guests to invite may have decreased, but the required number of seats remains fixed. According to the Korea Consumer Agency's price information portal "Chamgagyeok," as of July this year, the median "minimum guarantee" for wedding halls nationwide was 200 people. The "minimum guarantee" is the minimum number of meals the couple must pay for, regardless of how many guests actually attend. The nationwide median meal fee per person was 60,000 won, with Seoul at 80,000 won. Venue rental fees had national and Seoul medians of 3.5 million won and 6.3 million won, respectively. The Chamgagyeok survey from February also noted that the minimum guarantee had increased from the 100-guest range to the 200-guest range in areas outside Gangnam, Seoul and in Gwangju, contributing to rising wedding costs.

Poomasi is regarded as a self-help solution to bridge this gap. Unlike paid "guest stand-ins," which resemble part-time employment, poomasi is reciprocal and helps save costs. On secondhand trading platforms, advertisements for guest stand-ins and services from specialized agencies are also found, with a daily wage ranging from the high 10,000 won range to around 50,000 won, depending on whether a meal is provided. In contrast, with poomasi, no fees or monetary gifts are exchanged; instead, participants simply attend each other's weddings in turn.

"Worried the Bride's Side Will Look Empty" – Measures Against No-Shows

Since no compensation is offered, measures have been put in place to ensure trust. To prevent "no-shows" (when a participant fails to attend), some groups require a small security deposit in advance, while others immediately remove absentees from the community. Joo (33), who found a poomasi partner through a community, told Yonhap News, "I was worried the bride's side would look too empty when taking group photos. But as several brides-to-be in similar circumstances gathered, a supportive atmosphere formed, and it felt far less burdensome than hiring stand-ins."

Commenting on the phenomenon, Lee Eunhee, professor emeritus of consumer studies at Inha University, told Yonhap News, "Even the process of inviting guests to a wedding entails additional costs for things like invitation gatherings or hosting meals. Hageok poomasi is a practical way to reduce such burdens by exchanging attendance rather than paying fees." Sujin Lee, research fellow at Trend Korea Consumer Trend Analysis Center, noted, "Among the younger generation these days, the purpose of relationships and what is exchanged are clearly defined. In that sense, hageok poomasi is a new relationship model, underpinned by equivalency—offering similar levels of support to one another."

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