"Just sending a wedding invitation feels a bit awkward"... Engaged couples treat others to meals nearly 11 times before the wedding

Average of Nearly 11 Cheongmo Gatherings Before Marriage
7 in 10 Unmarried People Say "Cheongmo Gatherings Are Necessary"
Top Reason: "A Sincere Gesture of Sharing the News in Person"

Couples preparing to marry hold an average of nearly 11 “Cheongmo” gatherings to hand out wedding invitations. Cheongmo refers to gatherings where a couple meets friends and acquaintances, treats them to a meal, and gives them wedding invitations.

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According to a survey of about 500 married people conducted in the second half of this year by Gayeon, a matchmaking company, 57.8% of respondents said that both the bride and groom held Cheongmo gatherings before their wedding.

A further 27.5% said they “met only a small number of acquaintances without holding formal Cheongmo gatherings,” while 3.4% said that “only one member of the couple held them.” Just 8.6% said they did not hold any Cheongmo gatherings.

Married respondents who held Cheongmo gatherings held an average of 10.81. When asked how much they spent per person on meals at the gatherings, the most common response was 50,000 won among men and 30,000 won among women.

In a separate survey conducted around the same time among 500 unmarried men and women, Gayeon found that 68.3% of respondents said Cheongmo gatherings were necessary. The share who said they were unnecessary was 31.6%, meaning those who considered them necessary outnumbered the others by more than two to one.

The most common reason respondents gave for considering Cheongmo gatherings necessary, cited by 52.6%, was that “it makes me feel that the other person considers me an important connection, worth meeting in person to share the news of their marriage.” Two responses tied for second place at 44.8% each: “It feels insincere to send only a mobile wedding invitation without meeting in person after being out of touch for a while,” and “It offers a chance to meet face-to-face after a long time and catch up, using the wedding as an occasion.”

Among unmarried respondents who said Cheongmo gatherings were unnecessary, 61.3% cited the reason that “it seems like a custom that places an unnecessary financial burden on the bride and groom.” This was followed by “It is burdensome to set aside personal time beyond attending the wedding” (36.9%) and “If I am treated to a meal at a Cheongmo gathering, I feel I will have to give a larger cash gift on the wedding day” (33.1%).

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