Korean Job Discussion Forums

[naturegirl321]

Can this be done in a church? We've been married for 5 years and just did the civil ceremony when we got married.

Now we'd like to do something in a church or chapel.

[CentralCali]

"And/or" doesn't really apply. If there's no civil registration of the marriage, then the couple's not married.

When it comes to church nuptials, one has to check with the church, of course, to see if the couple meets the requirements of that religion to be married by their clergy.

[naturegirl321]

Hm, we'll have to find a non-denom one then, maybe we could just rent a chapel and take photos?

[Illysook]

Most pastors are highly educated and will speak English even if the services at the particular church are held in Korean. The largest denomination in Korea is Presbyterian. Just visit a nice looking church and ask to speak to the Pastor.

[ttompatz]

[naturegirl321]

We're not gettting married. Just having a wedding. We're already married. But had a quick civil ceremony nearly five years ago.

[CentralCali]

Maybe something's missing in the cultural translation between your home country and here. My home country is the United States. In every state and territory there, a member of the clergy (if authorized by his religious body) can conduct a marriage ceremony. In addition, he is also authorized by the civil government to officiate on the government's behalf: "By the authority vested in me by the State of California, etc." The cleric then signs the marriage license attesting to the fact that the applicants are now married per the civil law.

In the Republic of Korea, clergy do not have that authority. There is one and only one kind of valid marriage transacted in this country: civil marriage. Yes, wedding halls are Big Business here; however, the wedding hall "ceremony" has no meaning under the law. It's just a custom--and an expensive one at that.

If you're looking for a religious confirmation of the civil service you contracted here or elsewhere and you want that religious ceremony to happen at a Korean church or temple, you'll have to check with the priest/minister/bishop/pastor/abbot/rabbi/whatever-the-head-honcho-is-called. Some faiths, such as the Roman Catholic, will only conduct a wedding if one of the two parites to the marriage is a member of that faith and the other agrees to raise any children who are issue of that marriage as Roman Catholic. Some faiths will only conduct marriages for couples if both parties to the marriage are members of that faith.

I've a serious question for you. Are you and your husband religious people? If you are, then check with the leader of your faith's local congregation. If not, then why do you want this? The aforementioned wedding halls are expensive and, in my opinion, nowhere at all what one would expect a marriage or renewal ceremony to be.

[naturegirl321]

But we don't need to get married. We've already done that. I know how it works in the US. I didn't get married there, but I'm American.

In Peru, where we got married, it's the same as Korea. Just the civil ceremony. Renewal of vows would be a different story though, wouldn't it.

My husband is Roman Catholic by upbringing and wants to get married in the church, because that's what's done in his culture. I know what has to be done to get married in that Catholic church. My parents did that, my mom was raised Catholic, but wasn't Catholic, her parents forced her to get marrie din the church. My dad isn't religious. I know you promise to raise your kids Catholic. Saying and doing is very different.

I guess the long and short answer to my question is that we can't have a renewal of vows in Korea. Guess we'll have to go somewhere else.

[lizzie hong]

I wonder why people feel the need to reply if they haven't even read the OP.

I think you could very well get your renewal done here in Korea. Have a Korean friend help you find some Chapel and ask to see if it's possible. You're already legally married, so why wouldn't a Church give you a blessing for your marriage?

I wouldn't give up because a few posters, who didn't even correctly understand your question, gave you conflicting advice.

[CentralCali]

[ttompatz]

[naturegirl321]

[jinks]

Or you could get a unitarian minister to marry you on the beach in Guam

[naturegirl321]

[jinks]

I knew that - "marry you" is clumsy shorthand for "bless your union"