The Quoted 800,000 Won, the Bill Was 5 Million... Bereaved Families of 'No-Funeral-Room Funerals' Suffer Twice

No-Altar Funerals Gain Popularity Amid Rising Costs

"Promoted as 800,000 Won, Billed for 5 Million Won"

Bait-and-Switch Advertising Excludes Essentials, Forces Costly Add-Ons

Mr. Park (71), who held his father's funeral in March this year, decided on a no-funeral-room funeral according to his father’s last wishes. Having borne hospital and caregiving expenses exceeding 3 million won per month for years, the 800,000-won no-funeral-room package seemed like a reasonable choice. However, the final bill after the funeral came to 5 million won. This was because the service provider repeatedly suggested upgrading to a more expensive burial shroud and urn, saying, "Shouldn't we show respect on the final journey?" Park admitted, "It wasn’t easy for the bereaved to argue over costs at such a time."

The entrance of a funeral hall in downtown Seoul. Recently, about half of the bereaved families visiting this funeral hall have been opting for 'no-funeral-room funerals' without setting up a funeral room. Photo by Hosoo Park

With rising prices and the increase in single-person households, no-funeral-room funerals, which do away with traditional funeral rooms and simplify the process, are emerging as a practical option. However, problems such as non-transparent pricing structures and excessive additional charges are also surfacing. There are complaints that some companies’ sales tactics are causing bereaved families to suffer doubly.

According to the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission on April 24, there were 551 funeral-related complaints filed from January 2020 to March last year. Excluding 2020–2021, when funeral procedures were simplified during the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been an average of over 130 cases per year. In 2022, the number surged to 133 cases—more than double the 52 cases in the previous year. Most complaints involved 'additional charges not included in the contract' and 'being pressured to buy certain products.'

Many of the complaints highlight the lack of transparent pricing in no-funeral-room funerals. One bereaved family member said, "During the consultation, they only showed a chart with options like 'Shroud 1·Shroud 2' labeled by number and pressured us to choose." Mr. Ryu (69), who experienced a funeral in January this year, also commented, "The basic package is cheap, but they insist on expensive shrouds out of respect for the deceased, and a single set can cost over 5 million won."

The background for rising funeral costs lies in the structural downturn of the industry. According to the Fair Trade Commission, the number of funeral service companies dropped from 214 in 2016 to just 76 this year, following a sharp decline during the COVID-19 period. An industry insider said, "Considering the minimum labor cost and basic supplies, a no-funeral-room funeral would normally cost around 2.5 to 3 million won. However, fierce competition among companies has led to unrealistic ultra-low-price advertising to attract bereaved families, followed by on-site upselling of options to make a profit."

Voices within the funeral service sector are also pointing out these industry problems. An employee at a funeral hall in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, said, "We held 15 funerals last month, and half of them were no-funeral-room funerals. These services generate almost no income from room rental fees or food sales, so to maintain operations amid an economic downturn, many try to compensate with sales of funeral supplies."

Online, it's easy to find advertisements promoting no-funeral-room funerals for 650,000 to 900,000 won. However, when an actual quote is provided, separate charges for storage room use, coffin dressing, and cremation are added as 'essential items.' If a funeral vehicle is used, additional fees and surcharges for distances beyond the basic range further increase the total cost. An employee at a funeral hall in Yeongdeungpo-gu said, "If death occurs at home, the transportation and handling of the body alone adds about 700,000 won, so it is realistically impossible to hold a funeral for around 1 million won."

While the simplification of funerals is an inevitable trend, experts point out that transparency in cost structures must be ensured. Siwol Kim, professor of consumer studies at Konkuk University, stressed, "It’s not just about lowering prices, but about introducing a price labeling system that clearly presents costs in advance and a standard price system that openly discloses additional expenses. Institutional measures to guarantee bereaved families’ right to choose are essential for a healthy funeral culture to take hold."

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