The Fair Trade Commission has prepared a standard contract to prevent 'blind contracts' in the wedding planning industry. It aims to specify service content and prices in advance for items like studio shooting, dress lending, and makeup, and to clarify the basis for penalties to prevent damage to prospective couples.
On the 3rd, the Fair Trade Commission noted that it has enacted a standard contract to improve unfair contracting practices in the wedding planning industry and reduce consumer damage, which will take effect immediately. This is a follow-up measure to the 'Youth-Friendly Service Development Plan' announced last year, in response to the sharp increase in consumer damage consultations related to wedding planning, which rose from 790 cases in 2021 to 1,293 cases in 2023.
The Fair Trade Commission conducted a six-month survey to examine the structural issues where prospective couples enter into 'package contracts' without knowing the prices of individual services at the time of contract. It particularly pointed out that additional options such as purchasing photo files, dress fitting fees, and early start costs for makeup often come with separate expenses, resulting in what is referred to as 'additional expense bombs.'
The new standard contract has been structured to allow basic services (studio, dress, makeup) and optional items to be clearly identified on the contract cover. A separate price list has been prepared to indicate detailed expenses, and if requested by users, the business operator is required to explain this information. The Fair Trade Commission expects that providing accurate price information at the time of contract will help reduce expense disputes after contracts are signed.
The issue of penalties has also been addressed. In the past, the basis for penalties upon contract termination was unclear, leading to frequent disputes. However, the new terms set different criteria for imposing penalties depending on the reasons and timing for contract termination. After selecting partner companies, penalty conditions must be re-notified, and consent from consumers must be obtained.
However, individual wedding service providers remain in a regulatory blind spot. Companies that actually provide wedding services, such as studios, dress shops, and makeup artists, are not subject to regulation.
The Fair Trade Commission plans to post the new standard contract on its website and encourage its use in the industry. A Fair Trade Commission official stated, 'We plan to actively conduct training for the industry and other stakeholders to ensure that the standard contract can be implemented quickly and without confusion in the field.'