"Do We Need to Hold a Four-Day Funeral?" Crematorium Shortage Debate by the Numbers

Expansion of Cremation Furnaces in the Seoul Metropolitan Area Eases Immediate Pressure
Severe Concentration of Demand in Specific Regions and Morning Hours
Structural Limitations Persist Amid an Aging Population

Recently, online communities related to funerals have seen a continuous stream of posts expressing anxiety over crematorium reservations. Above all, memories of the so-called "cremation crisis" last year, when deaths surged due to a flu outbreak, still linger. Statistics showing that the nationwide third-day cremation rate has remained in the 70% range for four consecutive years are fueling these concerns.

On January 26, Yonhap News reported on the current state of cremation facilities, focusing on whether the shortage is so severe that families are often forced to hold four- or five-day funerals.

Hwaseong Hambaksan Memorial Park Cremation Facility. Hwaseong Hambaksan Memorial Park

Third-Day Cremation Rate at 75.5%... "Statistical Decline, But Not a Real Shortage"

According to statistics from the Korea Funeral Culture Promotion Institute, last year’s national third-day cremation rate was 75.5%, a 1.9 percentage point decrease from the previous year. The rate, which remained in the mid-80% range from 2019 to 2021, dropped to 74.2% in 2022 and has since stayed in the 70% range. The decline is particularly pronounced in major metropolitan areas such as Seoul (69.6%), Gyeonggi Province (63.1%), and Busan (67.1%). Under the Act on Funeral Services, cremation is only permitted 24 hours after death, so cremation on the third day is necessary for a typical three-day funeral. This has sparked debate over a "crematorium shortage."

The "3rd-day cremation rate" of cremation facilities in the Seoul metropolitan area and the cities of Busan, Daegu, and Incheon. Korea Funeral Culture Promotion Institute

However, the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the funeral industry caution against drawing conclusions about the on-the-ground situation based solely on statistics. A Ministry official explained, "When someone passes away in the evening or at night, it’s common to open the funeral hall the next day to accommodate visitors. Taking this into account, a third-day cremation rate of 75% indicates that there is no significant issue in securing crematorium slots." The Korea Funeral Culture Promotion Institute also stated, "The third-day cremation rate is simply a statistic based on the date of death and does not necessarily mean that four- or five-day funerals are taking place. In many cases, cremation is delayed due to personal circumstances or scheduling preferences."

Expansion of Cremation Furnaces in the Seoul Metropolitan Area Prevents a Repeat of Last Year's Crisis

In reality, cases where funeral schedules are extended due to a lack of cremation facilities are rare. Unlike the "cremation crisis" at the beginning of last year, the expansion of cremation furnaces in the Seoul metropolitan area is having a positive effect this year. Hwaseong Hambaksan Memorial Park in Gyeonggi Province increased its number of cremation furnaces from 13 to 18, allowing up to 80 cremations per day, while Seoul Memorial Park expanded its daily capacity from 59 to 85 cases. Outside the metropolitan area, one additional cremation furnace has also been put into operation. The absence of a large-scale infectious disease outbreak this winter has also played a role. In fact, the nationwide third-day cremation rate for the third week of January this year was 79.9%, a marked difference from the sharp decline seen early last year.

Seoul Memorial Park. The Asia Business Daily DB

However, some bereaved families still report that "it was not easy to reserve a crematorium slot." The industry explains that this perception is due to "preference concentration," not an actual shortage of facilities. According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s "e-Haneul" cremation reservation system, afternoon slots at major crematoriums in Seoul are relatively easy to book, whereas demand is concentrated in the morning. Families prefer morning slots to allow time for burial and memorial ceremonies after cremation. In addition, many crematoriums give priority for morning reservations to local residents. In Seoul, for example, the cremation fee for local residents is 120,000 won, while for non-residents it is as high as 1 million won. If the deceased is not a local resident, it can be difficult to reserve the desired time slot, leading to the perception of a "shortage." A funeral home official commented, "It’s not that there are no available slots; it just feels that way because the preferred times and locations are limited."

Aging Population Increases the Risk of Another Cremation Crisis

Nevertheless, as seen in last year’s cremation crisis, structural limitations clearly remain, even if there are currently no major problems. According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s "Third Comprehensive Plan for Funeral Facility Supply and Demand," the annual number of deaths is expected to reach 700,000 by 2070. In contrast, the number of cremation furnaces nationwide is only about 410, falling short of the target of 430. The cremation rate has also surged from 19.1% in 1993 to 94% in 2024.

If the increase in deaths coincides with a growing preference for cremation, another crisis could certainly occur. Park Taeho, co-chair of the Funeral and Cremation Culture Research Forum, emphasized, "Given the characteristics of funeral culture in Korea, there are limits to operating cremation furnaces late into the afternoon. There is a need for mid- to long-term measures to address regional imbalances and diversify funeral practices."