1. Average Cash Gift by Relationship (2026)
| Relationship | Typical Amount | Common Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Immediate family (parents, siblings, children) | 1,000,000+ KRW | 500K–several million | Siblings: 1M baseline; parent–child: household contribution concept |
| Extended family (cousins, aunts, uncles) | 200,000 KRW | 100K–500K | Affected significantly by frequency of contact |
| Close friend (best friend) | 100,000–150,000 KRW | 100K–200K | 100,000 has become the norm for people in their 20s–30s |
| Casual friend / acquaintance | 50,000 KRW | 30K–50K | Min. 50K when attending; 30K for absent-guest transfer |
| Work colleague (same cohort) | 50,000–100,000 KRW | 50K–100K | 100K if close; 50K otherwise |
| Senior colleague / boss | 100,000 KRW | 100K–150K | 150K for hotel weddings |
| Junior colleague | 50,000–100,000 KRW | 50K–100K | Avoid excess to not burden them with reciprocation |
| Other-team / barely-known colleague | 50,000 KRW | 30K–50K | Usually absent-only transfer |
| Business contact | 100,000 KRW | 100K–300K | Proportional to relationship depth and duration |
2. Minimum by Venue Type
- 5-Star / 4-Star Hotel — Catering: 100,000–150,000 KRW/person. Minimum gift: 100,000. With spouse attending: 150,000+.
- House Wedding (private venue) — Catering: 80,000–120,000 KRW/person. Similar floor to hotel: 100,000 KRW.
- Convention Hall — Catering: 70,000–100,000 KRW/person. 100,000 is the safe minimum; 50,000 may feel low.
- Standard Wedding Hall — Catering: 50,000–70,000 KRW/person. 50,000 KRW is acceptable.
- Small Wedding — Lower catering cost; under 50,000 is technically fine, but stick to standard norms for close relationships.
3. Absent-Guest Transfer Etiquette
Key points when sending money without attending:
- Typically 20,000–50,000 KRW less than you would give in person (no catering cost for you).
- But 30,000 KRW can come across as half-hearted — try to send at least 50,000 KRW.
- Best timing: 3–7 days before the ceremony. Sending after the day can look like an afterthought.
- Include your full name in the transfer memo and send a congratulatory message too.
4. Generational Differences
| Generation | Close Friend | Same-cohort Colleague | Hotel Minimum | 30K Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20s | 50K–100K | 50K | 100K | Somewhat accepted |
| 30s | 100K | 50K–100K | 100K–150K | Rarely accepted |
| 40s+ | 100K–200K | 100K | 150K+ | Almost never accepted |
Older generations tend to tie higher amounts to relationship value. Conversely, those in their 20s face a larger income-to-amount burden, so there is more flexibility in the 50K–100K range.
5. Workplace Cash Gifts — The Most Sensitive Zone
5-1. Direct Supervisor / Team Lead
Attending your direct supervisor's wedding is practically expected. 100,000 KRW is the floor; 150,000 for hotel/house weddings. If your team pools gifts together, individual shares may drop to ~50,000 — always check team practice first.
5-2. Same-Team Colleague / Junior
If you work together daily, 100,000 KRW is natural. For a simple colleague, 50,000 is plenty. Giving a junior too much (200,000+) can put uncomfortable pressure on them to reciprocate.
5-3. Other-Team / Barely-Known Employee
Receiving an invitation from someone you barely know is usually handled with absent-only + 50,000 KRW transfer.
6. Business Contact Norms
- Ongoing relationship (1+ year, regular meetings): 100,000–150,000 KRW.
- Key client owner/executive family wedding: 300,000+ or company-name flower arrangement.
- Government-adjacent contacts: check the Anti-Graft Act ceiling before sending.
7. Reciprocal Gift Baseline
Using the amount you received at your own wedding as a reciprocal baseline is a key Korean norm. Matching within ±10% is considered tidy. The "amount received at my wedding" field in this tool applies this logic.
8. Cash Envelope Etiquette
- Write your full name on the front of the envelope — the couple needs to match it to the guest list.
- For bank transfers: put your full name in the transfer memo.
- Use new or clean bills — crumpled notes are considered impolite.
- Write your workplace/team on the back lower-left of the envelope to help the couple sort records.
9. What to Avoid
- 30,000 KRW while attending (obviously below catering cost).
- Family attending but giving only your individual baseline (ignoring the extra catering cost).
- Forgetting to write your name — risks being omitted from the guest log.
- Asking others at the venue how much to give — creates awkward comparisons.
10. Cultural Background
Chukui (축의금) originally meant "celebrating together and sharing meal costs." Over time it has evolved into a mutual-aid system with reciprocation expected. Many families keep records of received amounts. This tool automates the calculation; your final decision should reflect your own relationship sense and budget.