Extension of Intensive Operation Period for Cremation Facilities Until the End of This Month... Cremation of Opened Ashes Also Permitted

On the 16th of last month, when the number of deaths was recording the highest ever daily due to the surge in COVID-19 cases, the Seoul Municipal Crematorium in Goyang-si, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

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[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] The government has extended the intensive operation period for cremation facilities, which began on the 16th of last month, until the end of this month. Cremation of exhumed remains, which had been suspended since last month, will also be allowed on a limited basis.

On the 13th, Park Hyang, head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters' quarantine team, stated, "To respond to the high demand for cremation and increase cremation capacity, the intensive operation period for cremation facilities will be extended for two weeks until April 30." Previously, the government had implemented an intensive operation period for cremation facilities starting on the 16th of last month, increasing the number of cremations per furnace nationwide and extending operating hours.

During this period, the daily cremation capacity and the cremation rate by the third day increased. The average daily cremation capacity, which was 1,044 cases in February, rose to 1,785 cases as of the 11th of this month. The cremation rate by the third day, which had dropped to 20% on the 19th of last month, increased to 71.4% as of the 11th of this month, approaching the February level of 77.9%.

The government also decided to allow limited cremation of exhumed remains starting from the 16th, after a full suspension last month. Park said, "Demand for cremation of exhumed remains increases annually during the Cheongmyeong and Hansik periods in March and April, but the complete suspension last month caused inconvenience to the public." Cremation of exhumed remains will be restricted to within 30% of the cremation operation cycles so as not to interfere with the cremation of general deceased persons.

Integrated reservation for cremations within and outside the jurisdictions of Seoul and Busan will also be implemented. A Ministry of Health and Welfare official said, "Allowing cremations outside the jurisdictions of Seoul and Busan is expected to meet the cremation demand in nearby areas and reduce inconvenience to the public during funeral procedures." Currently, the utilization rate of nationwide funeral halls and enshrinement spaces is stable at 39.6%, but the utilization rate of enshrinement spaces in Seoul remains high at 83.7%.

Minister of Health and Welfare Kwon Deok-cheol said, "Currently, there are a total of 60 cremation facilities nationwide, and the supply of cremation is insufficient to the extent that more than 130,000 people rely on one cremation furnace," adding, "Local governments without cremation facilities should make efforts to provide sufficient facilities considering their population."

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