Kim Hye-kyung visits first outdoor wedding at Gyeongbokgung palace museum
Version 2: Later coverage added program details — 293 applications for this year's 28 places, ceremonies on weekends and holidays until the 8th of the following month, and 80 couples next spring and autumn — along with the bride's background, and the outlets still differ on whether Kim attended the ceremony or visited the site beforehand.
In short
Kim Hye-kyung, the wife of President Lee Jae-myung, visited the first outdoor wedding at the National Palace Museum in Gyeongbokgung, Seoul, and congratulated Estonian YouTuber Mai — who runs the channel “Kimchi Ghost Mai” — and her Korean husband, the presidential office said in a written briefing. The Oct 2 ceremony opened a National Heritage Administration program that will host 28 weddings this year and 80 next year at the museum's ginkgo rest area. Maeil Business reported 293 couples applied for this year's slots, about ten applicants per place.
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Kim Hye-kyung, the wife of President Lee Jae-myung, visited the first outdoor wedding held at the National Palace Museum in Gyeongbokgung, Jongno-gu, Seoul, and congratulated the first couple, according to a written briefing by deputy presidential spokesperson Ahn Gwi-ryung on Oct 4. The wedding took place on Oct 2 at the museum's ginkgo rest area and was organized by the National Heritage Administration. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
The bride was Mai, an Estonian who came to Korea and runs the YouTube channel “Kimchi Ghost Mai,” where she introduces hanbok and Korean traditional culture, and the groom is her Korean husband, according to Dong-A Ilbo, Asia Economy, SBS News and Maeil Business. Asia Economy gives her name as Laura Mai Schultz. SBS News and Maeil Business said the channel has about 220,000 subscribers, and Maeil Business said she has lived in Korea for three years and was the first foreigner to win the Miss Chunhyang contest last year. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 6 ]
At the site, Kim said she had heard Mai was the first to marry there and that the weather was good and it was “so beautiful,” and told Mai she was doing a good job as a promotional ambassador after Mai said people travel from abroad for the wedding, Asia Economy reported. Dong-A Ilbo, SBS News, Seoul Shinmun and Maeil Business reported Kim also said she hoped cultural heritage would not remain in rigid, solemn spaces but stay close to people's daily lives. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
The outlets differed on her role at the event. Dong-A Ilbo said Kim attended the outdoor wedding, while Asia Economy, SBS News and Maeil Business said she visited the site ahead of the ceremony. Newsis published a photograph, provided by the presidential office, of Kim taking a commemorative picture with Mai before the ceremony. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
The National Heritage Administration said the program was meant to let people enjoy cultural heritage in everyday life and to ease the burden on young people preparing to marry. Maeil Business reported that 293 couples applied for this year's 28 slots, about ten applicants per place, that ceremonies run on weekends and holidays until the 8th of the following month, and that 80 couples will marry next spring and autumn. Asia Economy and SBS News said 28 weddings are supported this year and the number will grow to 80 next year. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 6 ]
Maeil Business reported the couple made their marriage vows under the ginkgo tree, and that Mai said that having introduced Korean culture she would now cherish Korea more as a family member of a Korean. Dong-A Ilbo reported Mai came to Korea from Estonia out of affection for the country. [ 1 , 6 ]
Why it matters
The wedding opens a National Heritage Administration program that turns a Gyeongbokgung palace museum space into a civil wedding venue, which the agency says will grow from 28 couples this year to 80 next year — a small share of the 293 applications Maeil Business reported for this year. The presidential office framed the event as part of efforts to ease the burden on young people preparing to marry and to bring cultural heritage into daily life. The documents give no cost, eligibility or application details, so the program's practical effect cannot be judged from them.
Key facts
- Kim Hye-kyung, wife of President Lee Jae-myung, visited the first outdoor wedding at the National Palace Museum in Gyeongbokgung, Jongno-gu, Seoul, and congratulated the first couple. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- The visit was announced in a written briefing on Oct 4 by deputy presidential spokesperson Ahn Gwi-ryung; the wedding was held on Oct 2. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 6 ]
- The first couple was an Estonian bride known as Mai, who runs the YouTube channel “Kimchi Ghost Mai” introducing hanbok and Korean traditional culture, and her Korean husband. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 6 ]
- The National Heritage Administration organized the wedding to let people enjoy cultural heritage in everyday life and to ease the burden on young people preparing to marry. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 6 ]
- The agency will offer the museum's ginkgo rest area as an outdoor wedding venue, supporting 28 weddings this year and expanding to 80 couples next year, according to Asia Economy, SBS News and Maeil Business. [ 2 , 4 , 6 ]
- Maeil Business reported 293 couples applied for this year's 28 slots, about a 10-to-1 competition rate, and that ceremonies run on weekends and holidays until the 8th of the following month. [ 6 ]
- Kim said she hoped cultural heritage would not stay in rigid, solemn spaces but remain close to people's daily lives. [ 1 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- SBS News and Maeil Business said Mai's YouTube channel has about 220,000 subscribers, and Maeil Business said she has lived in Korea for three years and was the first foreigner to win the Miss Chunhyang contest last year. [ 4 , 6 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Kim Hye-kyung, the wife of President Lee Jae-myung, visited the first outdoor wedding at the National Palace Museum in Gyeongbokgung, Jongno-gu, Seoul, and congratulated the first couple. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- The visit was announced in a written briefing on Oct 4 by deputy presidential spokesperson Ahn Gwi-ryung; the wedding was held on Oct 2. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 6 ]
- The National Heritage Administration organized the event to let people enjoy cultural heritage in everyday life and to ease the burden on young people preparing to marry. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 6 ]
- The first couple consisted of an Estonian bride known as Mai, who runs the YouTube channel “Kimchi Ghost Mai” introducing hanbok and Korean traditional culture, and her Korean husband. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 6 ]
- The agency plans to offer the museum's ginkgo rest area as an outdoor wedding venue, supporting 28 weddings this year and expanding to 80 couples next year, according to Asia Economy, SBS News and Maeil Business. [ 2 , 4 , 6 ]
- Kim said she hoped cultural heritage would not remain in rigid, solemn spaces but stay close to people's daily lives, according to Dong-A Ilbo, SBS News, Seoul Shinmun and Maeil Business. [ 1 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
Still unclear
- Whether Kim Hye-kyung attended the wedding ceremony itself or visited the site before it took place. Dong-A Ilbo said she attended the outdoor wedding, while Asia Economy, SBS News and Maeil Business said she visited the site ahead of the ceremony.
- The bride's full name. Asia Economy gives her name as Laura Mai Schultz, while other documents call her Mai; no other document confirms the full name.
- The exact time of the Oct 2 ceremony. Dong-A Ilbo says it was in the afternoon and SBS News says midday, and no document gives a precise time.
- Practical details of the wedding program, such as cost, eligibility, how couples apply and how long this year's schedule runs. Only Maeil Business gives figures (293 applications, about 28 selected, ceremonies on weekends and holidays until the 8th of the following month); the other documents give no cost, eligibility or scheduling details.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Dong-A Ilbo reports that Kim Hye-kyung attended the Oct 2 outdoor wedding at the National Palace Museum ginkgo rest area and highlights her remark on cultural heritage in daily life. [ 1 ]
- Asia Economy reports Kim visited the site ahead of the ceremony, her exchange with bride Mai, and the agency's plan for 28 weddings this year and 80 next year. [ 2 ]
- Newsis publishes a photograph, provided by the presidential office, of Kim taking a commemorative picture with bride Mai before the Oct 2 ceremony. [ 3 ]
- SBS News reports the first Gyeongbokgung outdoor wedding and the agency's plan to expand support to 80 couples next year. [ 4 ]
- Seoul Shinmun publishes a headline reporting Kim's visit to the first Gyeongbokgung wedding and her remark that cultural heritage should be with people's daily lives. [ 5 ]
- Maeil Business reports 293 applications for 28 slots this year, ceremonies on weekends and holidays until the 8th of the following month, and Mai's background. [ 6 ]