More modest, guest-free funerals: the new face of mourning in South Korea
With families shrinking due to demographic decline and more individualised social relationships, more people are opting for one-day ceremonies, without receptions to pay homage to the deceased, which were traditional signs of respect and social prestige. Contributing factors include the high costs of such ceremonies, as well as the need for less ostentatious rituals.
Seoul (AsiaNews/Agencies) – In South Korea, the aging population, and rapid changes underway in society are impacting even deeply rooted traditions and rituals.
The Korea Herald reports this in an article dedicated to the rapidly growing phenomenon of no-viewing funerals, that is, funerals without a reception.
In Seoul and across South Korea, anyone who has attended a farewell service for a deceased person immediately recognises the typical structure of funeral halls: After a brief visit to the altar to pay their respects, mourners move to a large adjacent room where they can spend hours enjoying food and drink.
This area remains open day and night for two or three consecutive days, allowing friends, relatives, and acquaintances to offer envelopes of money along with their condolences.
A crowded room is traditionally considered a sign of respect and social prestige for the family, while an empty room is as an additional source of grief.
This long-standing custom, however, is gradually changing. The shrinking size of families, the individualisation of social relationships, and above all, the increasingly high costs of these ceremonies are pushing many South Koreans to choose simpler and more private farewell rites.
Mr Chang, 42, says he chose a no-viewing funeral for his grandmother who was in her nineties and had lost most of her friends and relatives.
The family preferred to share their grief in an intimate setting, but some acquaintances reacted with surprise and resentment at not being invited, even though they never visited the dead woman when she was alive.
Financial considerations also play a significant role. Kim Hye-ryeon, 37, a freelancer and only child, lost her father after a long illness. A traditional three-day funeral would have cost her up to 20 million won (almost US$ 14,000), while donations would have been minimal.
Opting for a funeral without a reception, she spent around 2 million won (US$ 1,400), which included all essential rites such as burial and cremation.
According to industry professionals, a traditional funeral averages 150 attendees, while those without a reception cost a tenth of the price and last only one day.
Cultural resistance is diminishing. While no-viewing funerals were once considered a sign of poverty or disrespect, today they are widely accepted, especially among younger generations.
Among those who study South Korean society, some see this evolution as a positive change: less ostentatious ritual, fewer unnecessary expenses, and more room for authentic and silent mourning.
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12/02/2016 15:14
22/03/2023 19:42
