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"Nothing to be sad about"... The 'meaning of a funeral' left by a mother

Published : Jun 29, 2026 2:02 PM

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[News Story] "Don't bother people"... The '275,000 won' funeral cost written by a son (June 20, 2026)

Chrysanthemums, wreaths, funeral parlors crowded with mourners, and hosting guests throughout the night. The traditional Korean funeral culture, which has long been taken for granted, is changing. Recently, there has been a rapid increase in "no-parlor funerals," where the deceased is sent off by family members only, without sending out obituaries or setting up a funeral parlor. According to funeral directors, no-parlor funerals, which accounted for only about 1% of cases five years ago, reached 20% last year. Why are people moving away from the familiar three-day funeral and choosing a new way to say goodbye?

Reported by Seo Gyeong-chae | Written by Kim Da-yeon | Planned by Jung Hyung-taek | Edited by Son Jong-seok | Filmed by Lee Yong-han | Produced by SBS Digital News