The setup for the Pae Baek ceremony is simple but meaningful. The bride and groom sit on one side at a low table while the groom’s family sits on the other side. The table itself is arranged with a variety of foods and rice wine called soju; the placement for each can be symbolically significant.

Dates are placed on the east side of the table (where the sun first rises) imparting the newly married couple to rise early, work hard, be productive, and be reproductive.

Chestnuts are placed on the west side of the table to ward off evil spirits. Dried meats are placed as an offering to the mother-in-law with wishes to take her new daughter with kindness. In Korea, brides traditionally join the groom and move into his parents’ house where the matriarch might test her new daughter’s mettle.

The bride also offers sweets to elicit kindness and generosity of spirit. Gingko nuts are offered as a sign of steadfastness and eternal faith to their son. The offerings may vary from one pae baek to the next, but there is consistently a total of nine offerings, a numeric symbol of fullness and completeness represented by the new couple’s lifelong union.


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