[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] The Seoul Facilities Corporation announced on the 17th that it is urging citizens to refrain from visiting the Seoul municipal burial facilities during the Chuseok holiday period to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).
During last year's Chuseok holiday, a total of 110,000 mourners visited 16 burial facilities operated by the corporation, including the Seoul Municipal Crematorium in Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, Paju-si Yongmi 1-2 Cemetery, and Goyang-si Byeokje Municipal Cemetery.
To prevent the spread of COVID-19, the corporation plans to implement high-intensity special quarantine measures, including closing the indoor columbariums at five Seoul municipal cemeteries on holidays between the 19th of this month and the 18th of next month, suspending free shuttle bus services during the Chuseok holiday, closing ritual rooms and rest areas, and prohibiting food consumption.
The indoor columbariums to be closed during this period are five locations: Seunghwawon Memorial House, Burial-type Memorial Houses A and B at Yongmi 1 Cemetery, Royal Tomb-style Memorial House, and Building-type Memorial House at Yongmi 2 Cemetery.
A 'Cyber Memorial House' service is also provided, allowing people to honor and remember the deceased without visiting in person by performing memorial rites and ancestral ceremonies online. This service operates through the Seoul Municipal Crematorium website, where users can search for the deceased, upload photos of the deceased or the urn, set up ritual table food or select a flower offering stand, and post memorial messages.
Cho Sung-il, Director of the Seoul Facilities Corporation, said, "For the safety of citizens, we ask that you refrain from visiting graves during this Chuseok holiday as much as possible," and added, "We will continue to do our best to prevent the spread of COVID-19."
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