Family booked a 49,000-won photo shoot — and left paying W7.15m

A story about a family that visited a photography studio after seeing an ad for a budget shoot — and ended up paying around 7 million won ($4,950) — has gone viral, drawing widespread outrage online.

The account was posted recently on the online community Nate Pann under the title "We booked a 49,000-won family photo and walked out having paid 7.15 million won."

According to the poster, identified only as A, a family of five made a reservation after spotting an online advertisement offering family portraits for 49,000 won.

"They said we had to pay a deposit to book, so we paid 49,000 won upfront," A wrote, adding that the family also opted for hanbok (traditional Korean dress) rentals and hair and makeup services, shooting two concept sets.

A said the session itself went well. "It had been a long time since the whole family was together, my parents were in great spirits, and the photos turned out beautifully," the post read. "The problem started after the shoot, when we went into the consultation room to choose our photos."

According to A, the studio told the family it did not sell digital files separately — to receive the original files, they would have to spend at least 6 million won.

"We had changed into hanbok, done our makeup, and five of us had spent half a day there — and only then, with our photos sitting on their computer, did they show us the prices for the first time," A wrote.

A said the mother did not want to spoil the mood on what had been a rare family gathering. "In the end, my mother paid 150,000 won for the outfits and makeup, and 7 million won for albums and frames — 7.15 million won total, right there on her card," the post read.

After returning home, A called the studio the same day, saying 7 million won was excessive and asking to adjust the package or cancel. The studio refused, saying it had already emailed the original files and could not issue a refund.

"It had been just a few hours since we paid," A wrote. "They sent the original files within minutes of payment, and I couldn't understand why they were refusing to cancel items that hadn't even been produced yet."

When A's father threatened to file a formal complaint with the Korea Consumer Agency and pursue legal action, the studio's position shifted. "They said we could take just the original files for 4 million won, or keep the full package for 5 million won," A wrote. "A place that had insisted on absolutely no refunds dropped from 7.15 million won to 5 million won, then 4 million won, after a single phone call and one mention of the consumer agency."

"If the pricing were fair and transparent, how could 2 million won or 3 million won move around like a rubber band at a single word?" A wrote. "If the photography fee had been set from the start, I would have just paid it. But they lured us in with a 49,000-won ad, kept us trapped after the shoot with our photos on their computer, quoted 7 million won for albums and frames, and then said same-day cancellation was impossible for items they hadn't even started making. It's just so upsetting."

"We went with good intentions to treat our parents, and now the whole family is too upset to sleep," A added. "What makes me angriest is that my mother keeps blaming herself."

A closed the post with a warning: "Anyone booking a budget family photo shoot — ask for the full price list by text or email before you go. And if anyone has been through something similar and resolved it smoothly, I'd really appreciate your advice."

Reactions from other users varied. Many urged A to file a complaint with the Korea Consumer Agency, with some calling the studio outright fraudsters. Others said the unusually low advertised price should have been a red flag and that additional charges should have been confirmed in advance. A few questioned why the family paid 7 million won instead of simply walking out, while others said they were surprised the long-running scheme was still catching people off guard.