Ms. A (hereafter “A”), a Japanese woman about to get married, decided to have her wedding photos taken in South Korea instead of Japan. She visited a studio in Jungnang-gu, Seoul, through a Japanese company that specializes in “destination wedding photography in Korea.”
Although neither A nor her groom-to-be speaks a word of Korean, they were able to communicate with the photographer and complete the shoot smoothly thanks to an interpreter provided by the company. A commented, “It’s easier to communicate with the photographer in Korea than in Japan, so we were able to take pictures in a relaxed atmosphere. After the shoot, we enjoyed sightseeing in Seoul and were very satisfied.”
More and more Japanese couples are traveling to Korea for wedding photography. In Japan, weddings can be quite complicated, often lasting over three hours. By comparison, Korean weddings are more simplified, and the wedding photography culture is well-established. This appeals to couples who love Korean idols and dramas, leading them to take “expedition photoshoots” as part of their trip.
More and more Japanese couples are traveling to Korea for wedding photography. In Japan, weddings can be quite complicated, often lasting over three hours. By comparison, Korean weddings are more simplified, and the wedding photography culture is well-established. This appeals to couples who love Korean idols and dramas, leading them to take “expedition photoshoots” as part of their trip. Japanese wedding companies promote these expeditions on their official websites, using phrases like “Korea’s wedding photography technology is world-class.” Despite the high cost of these expeditions, around ¥290,000 (about 2.5m won, $1,829) per day, Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported that companies offering this service have recently seen a surge in inquiries from Japanese couples.
Typically, these expeditions are four days and three nights long. Couples usually complete their photoshoot on the second day and spend the remaining days exploring—referred to as a “wedding photo tour.”
As of November 11, a search for “Korean wedding photography” in Japanese on Instagram reveals nearly 40,000 posts from couples who have had their photos taken in Korea. Several YouTube videos highlight the advantages of shooting in Korea, showcasing the shooting atmosphere, photo retouching skills, and the makeup and hairstyling techniques of Korean studios.
Compared to Japan’s relatively conservative wedding culture, where couples wear traditional clothing such as kimonos and take photos at shrines and temples, Korean wedding photoshoots offer vibrant makeup and hairstyling, akin to the wedding day itself, and unique photo locations. One YouTuber remarked, “Korean studios are very passionate about making people look beautiful. There are also many more wedding-specialized studios in Korea than in Japan, offering a broader selection.”
In major cities like Tokyo and Osaka, “Korean-style wedding studios” have emerged, targeting couples who want to travel to Korea but lack the time or money. These studios aim to replicate Korea’s luxurious studio environments as closely as possible.
The popularity of “Korean-style styling,” driven by the influence of Korean idols and dramas in Japan, also contributes to the trend of destination weddings in Korea.
According to Japanese media outlet Otonanswer, hairstyles popular among Korean women, such as “goddess hair” and “short haircuts,” have recently become trendy in Japan, retaining their original Korean names. Instead of the typically “cute” hairstyles of Japanese women, the Korean style, emphasizing “maturity” and “naturalness,” is particularly popular. In February, a Japanese woman posted a YouTube video about her Korean destination photoshoot, mentioning that her husband wanted to wear a hanbok for the shoot, which motivated their trip to Korea.
