Oh Se-hoon apologizes for the 'funeral crisis'... "Review of expansion of cosmetic facilities"

As the number of deaths due to the spread of COVID-19 omicron mutations has increased, causing a nationwide 'credit riot,' Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said, "We will seriously review the expansion of cremation facilities."

Mayor Oh visited the Seoul Memorial Park and the Gangnam Branch of Seoul Medical Center on the morning of the 3rd to check the current state of operation of burial facilities, including the mortuary, and encourage the employees.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government has established special measures and operates cremation facilities until midnight, performing 232 cremations a day.

The average number of operations per day per crematorium at crematorium facilities is 8.3, which is higher than the 7 times recommended by the government.

From the 16th of last month, before the introduction of special measures, the number of cases held for 6-7 days exceeded 50% and peaked at 58% on the 24th.

Even today, as they have not been able to keep up with the cremation demand, only 19.5% of funerals are held for three to four days, which is the general funeral period, and the five-day market is the largest with 61%.

Accordingly, Seoul Memorial Park is reviewing ways to further increase the number of operations.

The city has also resumed operation of a low-temperature morgue where bodies can be safely stored.

First, the city will operate a low-temperature morgue that can accommodate 30 districts from the 4th by using the facilities of the Gangnam branch of the Seoul Medical Center, which was closed.

In a low-temperature mortuary, we decided to temporarily enshrin those who are not related to the general funeral home.

After visiting the facility, Mayor Oh met with reporters and said, "The work has nearly doubled, and the employees working on the site are in a very difficult situation. It is understood that they have reached the limit." I will take action to make it happen."

Mayor Oh also posted on SNS, saying, "I sincerely apologize to the bereaved family for the recent delay in funerals due to the surge in cremation demand." I did.

(Photo = Yonhap News)