[2021 Muyeongo Report] "It's really heartbreaking to cremate without even a farewell"

<3>Final Farewell

Interview with Kim Jong-deok, Funeral Hall Manager at Handok Hospital

Kim Jong-deok, the funeral hall manager at Handok Hospital, is being interviewed by Asia Economy.

[Asia Economy Special Coverage Team = Team Leader Ko Hyung-kwang, Reporters Yoo Byung-don, Jung Dong-hoon, Lee Jung-yoon] "The bodies of unclaimed deceased are severely damaged and have a strong odor. Sometimes, the form is unrecognizable. If you think of it as making money rather than honoring the deceased's last moments, you can't even touch the body."

He was in charge of investigation work at a company he worked for 17 years, and after quitting, he entered the funeral industry, which he was interested in. About 20 years ago, he joined a funeral home in Anyang-si, Gyeonggi Province, and became the office manager within six months. Thus, Kim Jong-deok, the office manager of Handok Hospital Funeral Home, began to encounter unclaimed deceased as if by fate.

The first unclaimed deceased he faced was a person who died while homeless on the street. The body was not severely damaged, but since he lived alone without family, his clothes and body smelled. Mr. Kim said, "I felt it was 'disgusting' and it was to the extent that I did not want to remember it." In cases where the unclaimed deceased's body is severely damaged, the body is handled without proper rites. He said, "They are placed in a coffin without even being embalmed and cremated, which is truly heartbreaking. How tragic it is."

He was concerned about the situation where the bodies of unclaimed deceased are cremated without a single family touch. Three years ago, he vividly recalls persuading a family who was about to give up on receiving the body to share the last moments together. The unclaimed deceased was an elderly man in his 80s, and his family, who had been apart for a long time, refused to receive the body. The youngest daughter of the deceased was about to sign a waiver to give up the body. However, he persuaded her that if she gave up the body, the deceased would be classified as unclaimed, and after cremation, the ashes would not return to the family. He guided them to receive cremation cost support from the local government, and eventually, the youngest daughter was able to honor her father's last moments. He said that during holidays or memorial days, he receives texts or KakaoTalk messages expressing gratitude.

However, such cases where the family is found for unclaimed bodies are rare. Most either cannot be contacted or refuse to receive the body. But obtaining a waiver signature to give up the body is not easy. Mr. Kim explained, "I traveled as far as Busan or Incheon to get signatures," adding, "They do not open the door or respond with 'I don't know that person,' acting this way because they have debts to the deceased or do not want to get involved."

Also, when the family initially refuses to receive the body but later hears that the deceased left assets, their attitude changes. An unclaimed deceased who lived by collecting scrap metal died, and when his siblings were contacted, they said, "We have not been in contact for a long time and will not receive the body." However, upon learning that the deceased had over 30 million won in savings and even a jeonse deposit, they accepted the body and proceeded with the funeral. Mr. Kim bitterly said, "Even in death, you need to have money to have a proper last farewell."

Having handled unclaimed deceased bodies for a long time, he now feels a sense of fulfillment as Suwon City in Gyeonggi Province introduced a public funeral system that ensures dignity. He says, "As long as my health permits, I will stay at the funeral home and care for the last moments of unclaimed deceased."

※ This article was produced with government advertising fees supported by the Korea Press Foundation.