[2021 Muyeongo Report] "COVID-19 Crisis 'Economic Impact' → Concern Over Sharp Increase in Muyeongo Deaths in 5-10 Years"

<5>The World They Live In

Experts Concerned About Rising Unattended Deaths Among Middle-Aged
COVID-19 Crisis May Create Another Layer of Unattended Deaths
Unattended Deaths Should Be Addressed as a Post-COVID Policy Agenda

[Asia Economy Special Reporting Team = Team Leader Ko Hyung-kwang, Reporters Yoo Byung-don, Jung Dong-hoon, Lee Jung-yoon] The reason why there are many unclaimed deaths even among middle-aged and elderly people and those under 60, including people in their 20s and 30s, lies in the economy. The vicious cycle of ‘economic shock → family breakdown → unclaimed death’ does not discriminate by age. Economic shocks ultimately increase the number of ‘deaths that no one protects.’ Analysis follows that the economic shock during the International Monetary Fund (IMF) foreign exchange crisis accelerated family breakdown, which in turn greatly increased the number of unclaimed individuals. There is also speculation that the current crisis caused by COVID-19 in our society will again lead to family breakdown, and unclaimed deaths may increase even more rapidly in 5 to 10 years.

Field experts point out that the current increase in unclaimed deaths among middle-aged and elderly people is partly due to changes in family composition. Park Jin-ok, Executive Director of the nonprofit organization “Nanum and Nanum,” which supports unclaimed funerals, said, “People currently in their 40s to 60s are a generation that has experienced rapid changes in family structure,” adding, “Those born after the birth policy of ‘have two children and raise them well’ implemented in the 1970s tend to belong to nuclear families. This means the probability of becoming an unclaimed individual without family to take care of the funeral is higher.”

COVID-19 could also be an important turning point in the trend of unclaimed deaths. Kim Min-seok, a team member at Nanum and Nanum, said, “Middle-aged and elderly people we meet at unclaimed funeral sites say things like ‘I lost my job due to COVID-19 and think I might become unclaimed.’” According to Kim, a middle-aged man who attended the unclaimed funeral of his younger sibling supported by Nanum and Nanum in June this year said, “I sent off my brother through an unclaimed funeral (with funeral expenses supported),” and added, “In this economically difficult situation, I think I might also have to hold an unclaimed funeral.”

Executive Director Park said, “Just like the IMF, which brought economic hardship and relationship breakdowns, COVID-19 will create another ‘layer of unclaimed deceased,’” and added, “This is why unclaimed deaths should be addressed as one of the main policy agendas after COVID-19.” He emphasized, “There is a need to establish a universal system for unclaimed funerals nationwide and to expand public funeral services.” Even young people in their 20s and 30s, who seem far from death, worry about unclaimed deaths. Kim, who is in his 20s, said, “Even I, who support unclaimed funerals, think I could become unclaimed in the future,” and added, “As family bonds weaken and young people live alone, it is difficult to be free from the problem of unclaimed deaths.”

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