“Korea’s marriage culture is really crazy. “It looks like everyone is going to work.”
When girl group Blackpink member Jenny’s wedding guest look was revealed, an overseas netizen reacted like this.
As of the 24th, this article had 2.7 million views on X alone.
Jenny attended an acquaintance’s wedding held somewhere in Seoul on the 28th of last month. At the time, Jenny wore a white shirt and black short-sleeved knit, matching it with black pants. She also wore an ivory-colored bag and neutral-colored shoes and kept her makeup simple.
Song Hye-kyo, Kim Go-eun, and Byun Woo-seok, who attended the wedding, also maintained black tones.
In Korea, this kind of attire is considered formal, but the reaction of overseas netizens was quite different.
Most people say, “You look depressed,” “It looks like you’re going to a funeral,” “If you go to a wedding dressed like this in our country, you’ll be kicked out in 2 seconds,” “Is it really a wedding?” “My parents will faint if they see me like this.” “This is really crazy. Responses include, “This is not a wedding atmosphere,” “It’s boring just to look at it,” and “It’s a culture shock.” It is difficult to understand Korean wedding dress etiquette.
Unlike overseas weddings, which are attended by family or acquaintances, in Korea, weddings of stakeholders such as bosses, colleagues, and other business associates are often required to be attended in a formal manner, and some have pointed out that this is ‘unusual’.
On the other hand, “because the guests should not outshine the bride. “That is their culture.” “Honestly, I like this culture better. The main characters on the wedding day are the bride and groom. There were also responses such as “Where I live, there are sometimes annoying people who dress too flashy and try to get attention” and “It has a unique and surprisingly classy atmosphere.”
Debates regarding wedding guest looks are not something that lasts just a day or two. In Korea, it is common practice to exclude guests from wearing white, overly flashy, or non-formal clothing in order to make the bride and groom stand out.
Previously, actress Lee Yu-bi was in the spotlight for appearing at her sister actor Lee Da-in’s wedding wearing a pink two-piece.
Accordingly, Lee Yoo-bi appeared on the SBS entertainment programme ‘Strong Heart VS’ last March and said, “I really wanted to talk about it,” and explained, “My younger brother, who wanted blue for the groom and pink for the bride, bought the clothes himself.”
He expressed his resentment, saying, “There were many articles saying that I tried to annoy my younger brother by wearing pink clothes, but I was very surprised.”
There is also a drama that deals with the common belief that you should not wear brightly colored clothes at a wedding. In the KBS 2TV weekend drama ‘Father is Strange’, there was an episode
in which he took revenge by appearing in white clothes at the wedding of someone who bullied his younger brother.
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What are the traditional dress codes for wedding guests in Korea?
Interview: Unpacking Korean Wedding Attire Culture
Editor: Welcome to Time.news! Today, we’re diving into the fascinating topic of wedding guest attire in Korea, especially in light of the recent buzz surrounding Blackpink member Jennie’s appearance at a wedding. Joining us is Dr. Min-Ji Lee, a cultural expert with extensive knowledge of Korean customs and etiquette. Thank you for being here, Dr. Lee!
Dr. Lee: Thank you for having me! It’s great to discuss such an intriguing topic.
Editor: Let’s start with Jennie’s attire. She was spotted wearing a simple white shirt and black pants at a wedding. The reactions from overseas netizens were quite strong, expressing confusion and even shock at her outfit. What do you think accounts for these differing perspectives?
Dr. Lee: It really highlights the cultural differences in dress codes across countries. In Korea, the attire Jennie chose is considered formal and respectful for a wedding. The focus here is on not outshining the bride and groom. However, in many Western cultures, guests often wear more vibrant and elaborate outfits, which may lead overseas audiences to perceive Korean attire as overly subdued—almost funeral-like, as some comments suggested.
Editor: That’s a compelling point. The article mentions that guests in Korea often include bosses and colleagues, which influences attire choices. Can you elaborate on that?
Dr. Lee: Absolutely. In Korea, weddings are not just personal celebrations; they can also serve as social and professional networking events. This encourages a formal dress code where guests aim for understated elegance—this ensures that the spotlight remains on the couple, especially the bride. This cultural norm can be quite different from weddings in countries where the event is more about individual expression.
Editor: Interesting. The article also touched upon a past incident involving actress Lee Yu-bi, who faced backlash for wearing pink at a family wedding. Why do you think people were so upset about her choice?
Dr. Lee: Lee Yu-bi’s situation illustrates the rigid expectations surrounding wedding attire in Korea. Many believe that wearing bright or standout colors can steal focus from the couple, particularly the bride, which is frowned upon. It’s deeply embedded in Korean wedding culture that wedding guests adhere to certain dress codes to uphold respect and tradition.
Editor: So, it seems like there’s a balance to find between personal style and cultural expectations. The article quotes some reactions from netizens praising this culture for its classiness. How do you think Korean wedding attire can evolve while respecting tradition?
Dr. Lee: That’s a great question! I think as globalization continues and cultural exchanges increase, we may see a blend of styles. There is room for creativity within the established norms; perhaps the emergence of bold yet respectful attire—colors that complement rather than overshadow the couple could become more accepted. Social media also plays a significant role in shaping these perspectives, as young people gain a platform to express their opinions on traditional practices.
Editor: That’s an exciting prospect for the evolution of wedding attire! Before we wrap up, do you think the heated debates around this topic could lead to any changes in the future?
Dr. Lee: Definitely! Discussions like these can either reinforce tradition or encourage adaptations that make societal norms more inclusive of personal expression. The key will be balancing respect for the bride and groom while allowing guests to feel confident and stylish. Ongoing dialog, like the one sparked by Jennie’s appearance, will be crucial in shaping these norms.
Editor: Thank you, Dr. Lee, for shedding light on this cultural aspect. It’s fascinating how a seemingly simple choice of attire can evoke such strong reactions and reflect broader societal values.
Dr. Lee: Thank you for having me! It was a pleasure discussing this engaging topic.
Editor: And thank you to our listeners for tuning in. Stay with us for more insights on cultural traditions from around the world here at Time.news!