South Korea Wedding Traditions & Ceremonies
A researched guide to 10 traditional wedding ceremonies from 3 cultural traditions in South Korea.
Buddhist
Wedding day
Buddhist Wedding Ceremony((No widely recognized local name))
While not as common as traditional or Christian weddings, some Buddhist couples may have ceremonies involving sutra recitation, meditation, and symbolic thread tying.
Key elements
- Sutra recitation, meditation, red thread, offerings
Christian (Protestant, Catholic)
Wedding day
Christian Wedding Ceremony((No specific local name))
A Western-style ceremony often held in a church or wedding hall, featuring a white dress, tuxedo, vows, and religious blessings.
Key elements
- White wedding gown, tuxedo, rings, Bible readings, hymns, prayers
Korean (Confucian)
Pre-wedding
Euihon(의혼)
議婚Families discuss marriage possibility, considering social status, personality, and compatibility.
Key elements
- Exchange of letters, fortuneteller consultation
Naljja Seoljeong(날짜설정)
날짜設定The groom's family sends the groom's birthdate (saju) to the bride's family for a fortuneteller to set the wedding date.
Key elements
- Saju (birthdate) on paper, bamboo branches, red and blue thread, red and blue cloth
Napchae(납채)
納采The groom sends a wedding chest (ham) with marriage papers (honseo), cloths (chaedan), and other gifts to the bride's family.
Key elements
- Ham (wedding chest), Honseo (marriage papers), Chaedan (red and blue cloths), Honsu (gifts)
Wedding day
Gyobaerye(교배례)
交拜禮The bride and groom bow to each other, symbolizing their commitment and respect.
Key elements
- Bowing, rugs for bowing
Hapgeunrye(합근례)
合巹禮The bride and groom share wine from a gourd cup, symbolizing their union as one entity.
Key elements
- Gourd cup, wine (jung jong)
Honrye(혼례)
婚禮The traditional wedding ceremony, historically held at the bride's home, involving formal attire and symbolic elements.
Key elements
- Formal court costumes (hanbok), hand lanterns, wedding geese/Mandarin ducks
Jeonanrye(전안례)
奠鴈禮The groom presents a wild goose (or wooden duck) to his mother-in-law as a symbol of lifelong commitment and loyalty.
Key elements
- Wild goose or wooden duck (won-ang seteu), bowing
Post-wedding
Pyebaek(폐백)
幣帛An intimate ceremony where the newlyweds pay respect to the groom's (and now bride's) family elders, receiving blessings and advice.
Key elements
- Hanbok, tea/rice wine, dates, chestnuts, money envelopes, bowing
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