(Entertainment-NewsWire.com, August 20, 2013 ) Humble, TX -- Chinese is now a source of over a quarter of all tourists to South Korea, and a handful of South Korean companies within the $15 million wedding industry are now finding ways to woo the image-conscious Chinese tourists who are happy to jet off to exotic and foreign locations.
The draw for many of the Chinese couples is not he palaces of Seoul or the fiery cuisine that is so well known in the area. It is, instead, the elegant urban style that is exemplified by Gangnam, the Seoul district known for its pomp and glitz. Helping to shape the image of the area in South Korea is the cosmetic industry and fashion industry, which has many South Korean stars cultivating a following from interested Chinese individuals.
"The style in South Korea is more sophisticated and cuter than what we have in China. We came here because South Korea is the leader in fashion and makeup," said the bride-to-be, Yang Candi, as two stylists fussed over her hair with a curling iron and giant hair clips during a recent photo shoot.
The South Korean tourism minister has already estimated that 2.5 million Chinese visitors spend nearly $2,150 per person over the last twelve months, which is more than any other nationality. That number is helping companies like iWedding, which is the county's largest wedding planner company that hosts Chinese tourists.
Each and every month, iWedding handles 50 to 66 Chinese couples according to the company's own numbers. That includes Beijing attorneys who have an affinity for South Korean TV shows and the bright lights and music of Seoul.
Local competitor Design Wedding recently decided to partner with a Chinese company to cultivate a stronger following from Chinese couples. Another company, Chuka Club, said it receives Chinese clients through organic means, rather than rival strategy.
"Chinese look up to South Korea for its sophisticated urban culture, style and beauty," said Song Sung-uk, professor of South Korean pop culture studies at the Catholic University of Korea in Seoul. "Rather than visiting traditional palaces or shopping for antiques, they would rather go to Gangnam to experience state-of-the-art shopping malls."
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