Gangjin County Council Member Yoon Young-nam Urges Promotion of One-Stop Comprehensive Funeral Facility Construction

5-Minute Free Speech Reflecting Voices of Elders on Site

Traveling to Haenam and Mokpo for Cremation, Bearing Over 400,000 Won Additional Cost

On the first day of the 1st regular session of the 291st meeting of the Gangjin County Council (Chairperson Kim Bomi), Councilor Yoon Young-nam strongly urged the promotion of the establishment of a one-stop comprehensive funeral facility in Gangjin County through a 5-minute free speech during the 1st plenary session.

Councilor Yoon first proposed the necessity of building an eco-friendly one-stop comprehensive funeral facility in Gangjin County that can handle funerals, cremations, and enshrinements all at once while also serving as a memorial park, representing the voices of local seniors during the county administration questions on the 10th of last month.

On the first day of the 1st regular session of the 291st Gangjin County Council, Councilor Yoon Young-nam is delivering a 5-minute free speech at the 1st plenary session. [Photo by Gangjin County Council]

He pointed out that the biggest concern for seniors these days is how to minimize the burden on their family and those around them while concluding their lives. Gangjin County lacks a comprehensive funeral facility including a crematorium, forcing surviving family members to undertake difficult journeys to other cities or counties after funerals, causing significant time inconvenience and financial burden.

In fact, when Gangjin residents use the crematorium at Mokpo Memorial Park, they pay 405,000 KRW more than Mokpo citizens, and when using the Namdo Regional Memorial Park crematorium in Haenam, they pay 430,000 KRW more than Haenam residents. Additionally, enshrinement costs at the columbarium facilities are also applied disparately.

The executive branch responded by expressing sympathy for Councilor Yoon’s proposal but showed strong reluctance to promote the establishment, citing past failures such as the cancellation of the regional crematorium project in Chillyang-myeon and Doam-myeon in 2011 due to resident opposition, the suspension of a natural burial facility project by the Gangjin County Forestry Cooperative in 2014 after residents’ backlash and refunding of project funds, and the significant financial burden if Gangjin County pursues the project alone, emphasizing the need for a cautious approach.

In response, Councilor Yoon pointed out, “In the past, funeral facilities were perceived as undesirable and avoided, but now, compared to 10 years ago, the perception of county residents toward crematoriums and funeral facilities has changed. Even if there are opposing voices, it is the role of the county to persuade and promote the project for the majority of residents.”

He continued, “When promoting a comprehensive funeral facility regionally together with neighboring counties, the national subsidy rate can be up to 80%, while if our county pursues it alone, it is 70%. It would be good to proceed jointly with other counties, but if that is not feasible, consider actively pursuing it independently.”

In particular, he emphasized, “Articles 4 and 5 of the ‘Act on Funeral Services, etc.’ impose an obligation on heads of local governments to establish regional supply plans for cemeteries, cremation facilities, columbarium facilities, and natural burial sites within their jurisdiction to meet demand.” He concluded his remarks by stressing, “From 10 years from now, the baby boomer generation (born 1955?1963), the largest demographic group, will enter late old age in earnest, so Gangjin County must carry out the preparation of comprehensive funeral facilities with a greater sense of mission according to demand.”

Councilor Yoon Young-nam stated, “I plan to continue raising my voice to support the promotion of the establishment of an eco-friendly one-stop comprehensive funeral facility in Gangjin County.”