Incheon Family Park Closed During Chuseok...Nation's First 'Online Ancestral Rite Service' Implemented

Temporary Closure of All Facilities Except Crematorium
Early Ancestral Grave Visiting Period from 12th to 29th This Month

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] Due to the resurgence of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), visiting graves at Incheon Family Park during this year’s Chuseok holiday will not be possible. Instead, Incheon City will implement the nation’s first online service allowing people to perform grave visits and ancestral rites.

The Incheon Facilities Corporation will temporarily close all facilities at Incheon Family Park, except for the crematorium, from September 30 to October 4 during the Chuseok holiday to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and ensure the safety of visitors.

The corporation judged that it would be difficult to maintain social distancing if family groups from across the country visit Incheon Family Park during the Chuseok holiday, and that COVID-19 could spread during the post-visit communal meal. In particular, if disinfection measures were enforced on visiting vehicles at the main gate of Incheon Family Park, it could cause traffic congestion in the area and raise safety concerns for visitors.

Incheon Family Park, where 143,000 deceased are interred, is the largest funeral facility nationwide, with over 3,000 bereaved family members visiting daily on average, and approximately 350,000 visitors during holiday periods. Due to its year-round operation, closure or suspension is difficult, making it a facility requiring stringent COVID-19 prevention measures.

Instead of opening during the Chuseok holiday, the corporation plans to designate September 12 to 29 as an “early grave visiting period” to encourage visitors to spread out their visits. During this period, disinfection and sanitation will be further strengthened in the indoor columbarium facilities at Incheon Family Park.

Additionally, from September 28 to October 11, an online grave visiting and ancestral rite service will be provided. Visitors can search for the deceased on the Incheon Family Park website, upload a photo of the deceased or their urn, choose to set up ancestral rite food or a flower offering stand, and post a memorial message.

This service is available only for those interred in columbarium, urns, or natural burial sites; those buried in general graves, constructed graves, or foreigner graves are excluded from the online grave visiting service.

Applicants must pre-register by September 18 on the Incheon Family Park online grave visiting system (http://grave.insiseol.or.kr). The park will also take and provide photos of urns upon request from bereaved families.

An official from the Incheon Facilities Corporation stated, “There were cases where COVID-19 cases surged after the Lunar New Year holiday and the May and August holidays this year, and with the recent resurgence of COVID-19 in the metropolitan area, we decided to close Incheon Family Park during the Chuseok holiday. We urge citizens to actively use early grave visiting and online grave visiting services.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.