Seoul Metropolitan Government Takes Action to Address "Cremation Crunch" Amid Aging Population

Seoul, South Korea - In response to the growing concern of a "cremation crunch" caused by an aging population, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has announced strategic measures to enhance cremation services, ensuring timely burials and addressing the surge in demand due to an increase in the elderly population.

Official Steps to Alleviate "Cremation Crunch":

Personnel Increase: The city plans to recruit an additional 30 full-time workers at Seoul Memorial Park and Seungwhaewon, the two cremation facilities under the Seoul Metropolitan Government's management.
Extended Operational Hours: Regular operating hours of crematoria are extended by two hours, aiming to accommodate the growing number of cremations.
Introduction of Advanced Technology: The city has introduced a modern cremation furnace designed to expedite the cremation process, with the goal of increasing the average number of daily cremations.
Projected Cremation Rate: The city aims to raise the cremation rate to 75% on the third day after death, aligning with societal expectations for a three-day burial.
Future Expansion Plans: By the end of next month, the city plans to increase the average number of cremations to 172 per day. Additionally, it plans to introduce 23 "smart cremation furnaces" by 2026, further optimizing the cremation process.
Smart Furnaces Impact: The introduction of these smart furnaces, proven to reduce cremation time from 120 to 100 minutes, will significantly contribute to meeting the anticipated demand.

Addressing the Urgency:

Given the societal demand for three-day burials and the impact of an aging population, the Seoul Metropolitan Government acknowledges the urgency of expanding cremation services. It estimates the need for an average of 155 cremations per day next year and 170 per day in four years. The current effort is part of a comprehensive plan to enhance cremation facilities and services in Seoul.

City's Vision for 2026:

The city's ambitious vision for 2026 involves the introduction of 23 advanced cremation furnaces, resulting in a reduced cremation time and an expanded daily capacity of up to 190 cremations. By pursuing these innovations, the Seoul Metropolitan Government aims to minimize inconvenience to citizens and make three-day burials a feasible option in the future.

In Conclusion:

As the aging population contributes to a surge in demand for cremation services, the Seoul Metropolitan Government's proactive approach aims to address the "cremation crunch." By increasing personnel, extending operational hours, and incorporating advanced technology, the city envisions a future where citizens can experience efficient and timely cremations, aligning with cultural expectations.

Cremation requires large amounts of fossil fuels to incinerate the body at high temperatures, which inevitably produces carbon dioxide. According to statistics in the United States, crematoria emit as much carbon dioxide in a year as tens of thousands of cars do in a year.

How many trees are cut down to make a coffin? Shouldn't we be thinking about whether we really need a casket for cremation, let alone burial? In the United States, the amount of iron used to make caskets in a year is comparable to building the Golden Gate Bridge.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, our bodies accumulate hundreds of toxic substances, albeit in trace amounts. Burial and cremation can also release traces of toxins. We shouldn't assume that our bodies are necessarily made of good stuff. We shouldn't think that our bodies are made of only good stuff.

Traditional cremation emits about 245 kilograms of carbon at a time. That's the equivalent of charging a smartphone more than 29,000 times. Traditional burials can leak chemicals used to embalm the body, contaminating the surrounding soil and waterways.

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