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The average amount sent as wedding gift money by bank transfer in Korea rose to 117,000 won ($78.58) last year, as younger guests moved away from the traditional 50,000-won baseline to offset the financial burden of rising venue costs.
NH NongHyup Bank released a trend report analyzing 5.33 million wire transfers from 1.15 million customers between January 2023 and December 2025. The data, released Thursday, detailed the changing norms for appropriate gift amounts.
The analysis showed a steady 6.9 percent increase in average cash gifts over the two-year period, climbing from 110,000 won in 2023 to 114,000 won in 2024, before reaching 117,000 won last year.
While 50,000 won remains the most common gift amount, accounting for 42.3 percent of all transfers last year, its prevalence is dropping. The share of 50,000-won transfers fell from 46.5 percent in 2023.
During the same period, the share of 100,000-won transfers rose from 36.1 percent to 39.7 percent, and 200,000 won gifts increased from 6.1 percent to 7.5 percent.
Even larger transfers ticked up. Transfers of 1 million won or more increased from 2.95 percent in 2023 to 3.17 percent last year, while transfers exceeding 10 million won rose from 0.22 percent to 0.36 percent over the same period.
Demographics and regional costs
Younger generations gave the most money. Guests in their 20s and 30s sent the largest average amount at 138,000 won. Guests aged 60 and older followed at 118,000 won, while those in their 40s and 50s gave the least, averaging 107,000 won.
Regional data highlighted the impact of local event costs. Seoul residents sent the highest average cash gifts at 134,000 won. Busan followed at 128,000 won, and Gwangju ranked third at 124,000 won.
Source: Korea Times News
