Half of Korean parents over 50 experience stress and anxiety around their children's weddings. The symptoms are not only emotional but physical: a quarter of the responses to the Chosun Ilbo survey associate the symptoms with back pain or toothache, and another 40% say the pain is even worse.
In Korea, there is intense pressure to 'look good' at weddings. The honor and prestige of the family is at stake. Even in the low-income classes, a third of weddings cost at least 100 million Won (almost 69 euros). The survey shows that 32,2% of couples whose parents had total assets of 600 million won (675 euros) spent 100 million or more on their wedding: 15-20% of their assets.
This pressure to comply with neighbors and relatives, even when finances do not allow it, often leads families to go into debt to meet the expenses of the wedding. The couple doesn't know it yet, but they may end up inheriting debts…
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2012/11/21/2012112100372.html
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2012/07/07/2012070700387.html
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2012/03/24/2012032400344.html
