Seoul Municipal Cemeteries 5 Sites, Up to 500,000 KRW Support for Cremation After Grave Opening

Maintaining Abandoned Cemeteries and Improving Surrounding Environment... 200 Million Won Budget Distributed on a First-Come, First-Served Basis

Yongmiri Cemetery No. 1 located in Paju, Gyeonggi-do.

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] The Seoul Facilities Corporation announced on the 9th that it will provide up to 500,000 KRW to bereaved families who have exhumed (改葬) graves and conducted cremations at Seoul Municipal Cemeteries. Considering that exhumation and cremation usually cost between 800,000 and 1,000,000 KRW, this support effectively reduces the expenses by half.

The five cemeteries eligible for support are Yongmi 1 and 2 Cemeteries, Byeokje Cemetery, Manguri Cemetery, and Naegok-ri Cemetery among the Seoul Municipal Cemeteries.

The Seoul Facilities Corporation explained that through supporting exhumation and cremation costs, it aims to organize neglected graves and improve the surrounding cemetery environment. This measure responds to concerns that unmanaged graves in municipal cemeteries are increasing due to the aging and passing of bereaved families, nuclear family structures, and changes in funeral culture, which damage the natural environment and cause discomfort.

To receive the support, applicants must first visit the relevant cemetery management office to fill out an exhumation report and support application form, complete the exhumation and cremation within this year, and submit proof of expenses by January 10 of next year. There must be no outstanding grave management fees in the municipal funeral facility electronic system. Recognized expenses include labor costs for exhumation (up to 4 people) and the purchase of items for collecting remains.

Seoul City will invest a total of 200 million KRW in this exhumation and cremation support. If the maximum limit of 500,000 KRW per grave is provided, a total of 400 graves can benefit. Support per municipal cemetery is 200 graves at Yongmi 1 Cemetery, 50 graves at Yongmi 2 Cemetery, 50 graves at Byeokje-ri Cemetery, 50 graves at Manguri Cemetery, and 50 graves at Naegok-ri Cemetery, and the support funds are provided on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more details, please refer to the Seoul Municipal Crematorium website or contact each cemetery management office by phone.

Meanwhile, the Seoul Facilities Corporation plans to verify the grave registers for about 400 unclaimed graves and graves without reuse applications in Byeokje-ri and Naegok-ri Cemeteries, provide notifications to relatives, announce exhumation notices, and begin exhumation work from mid-November according to procedures.

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