Yangpyeong County Switches from Public Solicitation to Recommendation System, Receives 18 Site Proposals to Ease Community Tensions
Joint Project with Gwacheon City; Final Site to Be Decided in 2027, Facility Opening Targeted for 2032
Mayor Jeon Jinseon: "Funeral Facilities Are the Minimum Consideration for a Dignified Farewell for Residents"
As the population ages and cremation becomes more widespread, the demand for funeral facilities is surging, and Yangpyeong County is accelerating efforts to construct a comprehensive funeral facility. This marks a significant turning point aimed at alleviating the inconvenience for residents who, until now, had to travel to other regions for cremation due to the absence of a public crematorium in the county.
According to Yangpyeong County on July 7, the cremation rate in the county has already exceeded 93%, and the annual number of deaths is expected to reach approximately 2,100 by 2038.
However, there is currently not a single cremation facility within the county, so residents have been relying on external facilities in places such as Seongnam, Wonju, and Chuncheon. Under these circumstances, overall cremation demand in the Seoul metropolitan area has reached saturation, and the "third-day cremation rate"?the percentage of cremations completed within three days of death?plummeted from 66.8% in 2024 to 31.2% as of January 2025. As a result, an increasing number of bereaved families are unable to have cremations performed in a timely manner after funerals.
In response, Yangpyeong County established a plan in 2023 to build a comprehensive funeral facility and decided to pursue the project jointly with Gwacheon City. The joint construction was deemed the optimal choice in terms of operational efficiency, reduced budgetary burden, and project feasibility.
The main challenge was community acceptance. Yangpyeong County had conducted three rounds of public site solicitations, but either no applications were submitted or initial applications were withdrawn, causing the project to stall. The reasons included opposition from residents, pressure on local representatives, and lack of communication.
Community Meeting for the Construction of Yangpyeong General Funeral Facility. Provided by Yangpyeong County
Starting in 2025, Yangpyeong County boldly changed its approach. Instead of the previous "public solicitation" method, the county adopted a "recommendation" system, allowing anyone to freely propose potential sites. The results were positive. During the recommendation period from March to June, a total of 18 sites were proposed as candidates. The county is now closely analyzing the feasibility and legal restrictions of some of these sites as part of its internal review process.
To ensure fairness in site selection, Yangpyeong County also established the "Public Burial Facility Construction Promotion Committee." After further review and feasibility studies, the county plans to finalize the site in 2027 and aims to open the facility in 2032.
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The comprehensive funeral facility planned by Yangpyeong County will be built on a site of more than 60,000 square meters and will include three cremation furnaces, as well as a columbarium, natural burial grounds, and convenience facilities for residents. Notably, the scale has been significantly reduced from the initial plan of 300,000 square meters, enhancing both feasibility and community acceptance. Instead of a funeral hall, the county intends to introduce resident-friendly revenue facilities such as sports centers or parks to minimize local opposition.
Yangpyeong County is approaching the construction of this funeral facility not simply as the creation of a public facility, but as the establishment of a dignified social infrastructure built together with the local community. Since 2024, the county has held community briefings in all 12 towns and townships, and plans to actively gather input during the site selection process through a subcommittee that includes resident representatives, experts, and conflict management specialists.
Appointment of the Yangpyeong Public Burial Facility Construction Promotion Committee. Provided by Yangpyeong County
In addition, the county is disclosing information and promoting the project through card news, social media, posters, and press releases to ensure that residents fully understand and empathize with every stage of the project.
Yangpyeong County Mayor Jeon Jinseon stated, "The construction of the comprehensive funeral facility is not simply about fulfilling a long-standing wish of the residents, but is an important task that prepares Yangpyeong County for the past, present, and future together. We will disclose every step of the project transparently, seek the best solutions together with residents, and, as this is an essential project for the dignified future of Yangpyeong County, I ask for the deep understanding and cooperation of all our residents."
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