In South Korea, self-service kiosks have been proliferating. They take coffee orders at cafes, process meal selections at restaurants and manage ticketing at movie theaters. But one machine has recently stirred debate by automating something some believe is more traditional: the giving of cash gifts that guests bring to weddings.

A photo of such a kiosk went viral online, stirring up both fascination and unease.

Some praised it as a practical update to a long-standing custom, while others found it impersonal―even cold.

The machine itself is simple. Guests begin by selecting whether they are attending on behalf of the bride or groom. They enter personal details like name, workplace and school―the kind of information they would typically write on a white envelope before inserting cash. After choosing an amount, guests can pay by cash or credit card. In return, the kiosk prints out meal and parking tickets.

Once the wedding concludes, the newlyweds receive the funds along with a spreadsheet detailing who gave how much.

Traditionally, this task falls to trusted family members, who spend the ceremony stationed at a reception table, collecting envelopes and tallying amounts. A kiosk eliminates that job.

Renting one costs about 300,000 won ($208). Two staff members then come to assist guests with using it, according to kiosk rental company Heart Kiosk.

Is it a wedding or a business?

While undeniably efficient, the kiosk has yet to win over many couples.

“I know some people would find it uncomfortable―like we’re running a business instead of celebrating a wedding,” said Park Yoo-jin, 33, who is getting married this fall. “Plus, I’d have to pay extra for it. Why spend money just to make guests feel uneasy?”

Park Hye-in, 31, who is set to marry in March, echoed the sentiment.

“I won’t use it because it might come across as rude,” she said. “That said, I do think it’s efficient. It could help prevent cash gifts from being stolen, which happens more often than people think. And the Excel spreadsheet (it comes with) sounds very convenient, too.”

For Lim Won-mo, 34, who is getting married in April, etiquette is not the biggest concern.

“There will be a lot of older guests who won’t be able to figure out how to use the machine easily,” he said. “I can already picture a long line of elders trying to straighten out wrinkled bills by rubbing them on their pants. It’ll be chaos.”

A survey by The Korea Herald on Instagram found opinions almost evenly split: Of the 686 respondents, 346 thought the kiosk was too impersonal, while 340 liked its convenience and modern touch.

Instagram user @justhee.k opposed the idea, saying it was “like the wedding asking for donations.”

Another user @abtsrkingmjjking, argued the traditional envelope method should stay, writing, “Cash in an envelope is the best way to give a wedding gift.”

Hard to deny their convenience

Some believe hesitation over the kiosk will fade.

Instagram user @yustinah called it “practical and clever,” adding, “It’s a no-brainer in today’s busy world.”

Choi Ji-an, 30, is also open to the idea, especially after hearing stories of strangers crashing weddings and submitting empty envelopes just to score a free meal ticket.

“I heard that some people spy on what others give, then claim they ‘accidentally’ paid too little and ask for their envelope back―just to steal the money,” she said. “A kiosk could prevent that.”

The digitalization of wedding gift money is not an entirely new concept. Not long ago, including a bank account number on wedding invitations was considered uncomfortable for many, akin to sending guests a bill. Now, it’s standard practice.

A survey conducted in December last year by wedding-business platform Direct Wedding with 214 couples found that 98 percent provided account details for wire transfers on their invitations.

Lee Woo-hyun, 40, said that even as a guest, the kiosk would be very convenient because it eliminates the need to withdraw cash in advance.

“I always forget,” she said. “And I end up doing it at an ATM nearby―usually for several friends who also forgot. I think it would be convenient because I can just use my card.”

Also, with a kiosk, no family member has to sit outside the wedding hall and miss the ceremony. Traditionally, the relatives in charge of collecting cash gifts spend practically the entire event at a reception table watching over the envelopes.

A Heart Kiosk official also emphasized the advantages of the wedding cash kiosk, noting that it replaces the traditional cash gift table, which many couples find burdensome since they have to ask a relative to manage it. The official added that the kiosk automatically organizes and calculates all the cash gifts.

“People who used our service also told us that it relieved them of the burden of asking a family member for a favor,” the official said.