Seoul, Nongshim to give 13 couples 3 million won each for wedding costs

The Seoul Metropolitan Government and Nongshim Co. will provide 13 couples planning to wed with 3 million won ($1,930) each to cover wedding preparation costs, with recipients to be selected through a story submission campaign running through this year and next.

Seoul signed a memorandum of understanding with Nongshim on Wednesday for cooperation on its "More Beautiful Wedding" project, aimed at easing the financial burden of wedding preparations and spreading a more affordable, distinctive wedding culture.

The "More Beautiful Wedding" project helps couples hold personalized ceremonies at attractive city venues such as parks and hanok, with reduced costs. Five locations will open as wedding photo shoot sites: the Namsan Hannam Wedding Garden, the rooftop of the Seoul Water Sports Center, the Namsan Hohyeon Wedding Garden, Cafe Maru Wedding Hall and the House of Literature Seoul. As an inaugural wedding photo shoot event, the city will provide up to 1 million won in photography and styling costs to one couple at each of the five venues, for a total of five couples.

The agreement with Nongshim was designed to build a comprehensive support system by linking private-sector expertise and resources, offering couples more substantial, practical benefits.

While Seoul has focused primarily on providing venue access, the new agreement adds direct financial support and service tie-ins from a private company. Couples will now benefit from a fuller package that goes beyond studio, dress and makeup cost support to include venue styling and guest gifts.

Under the agreement, Seoul and Nongshim plan to provide a wedding package to couples selected through the campaign. Each couple will receive 3 million won to cover studio photography, dress rental and makeup, along with venue styling for the ceremony and reception and guest gifts, based on the couple's preferences.

A ramyun donation program will also run to mark the occasion. On the wedding day, ramyun will be donated to Seoul Maeum Pyeonuijeom — community support centers modeled on convenience stores — in the names of the couple and Nongshim, with the quantity proportional to the number of congratulatory messages written by guests.

Seoul and Nongshim will run the "More Beautiful Wedding × Nongshim Campaign" from July 6 to Aug. 3, inviting couples who have booked a "More Beautiful Wedding" ceremony to submit their love stories. About 13 couples will be selected after a review process, with support for their weddings beginning in September.

Eligibility requirements and application procedures for the story submission campaign are available on the Seoul Metropolitan Government's More Beautiful Wedding website.

Ma Chae-suk, head of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Women and Family Bureau, said the city would "continue to expand cooperation with a wide range of private companies to help overcome the low birth rate crisis and do its utmost to build a city culture that is friendly to childbirth and child-rearing."