More Koreans opt for less perfunctory, less costly, quiet remembrance
Anyone who has attended a funeral hall in Korea will recognize how similar most of them look.
After a brief visit to the room with the altar to pay their respects, mourners move into a much larger adjoining reception area, where they linger over food and drinks.
The space stays open around the clock until the funeral concludes, usually lasting two to three days. During this time, acquaintances of the deceased and the bereaved family come together to honor the departed, while also catching up over meals and sometimes drinks, with guests offering condolence money.
Many Koreans believe it is their duty to stay as long as possible, out of concern that an empty room would deepen the family’s grief.
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