* Unattended deaths and lonely deaths are different in a strict sense. The term ‘lonely death’ applies to the death of a person who lives alone, disconnected from family and relatives, and whose body is found a certain period of time after they have died alone from disease, suicide, or age.
According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, as of 2021, the number of unattended deaths over the age of 60 was 2,367, accounting for about 68 per cent of the total. Unattended deaths among older persons are therefore a more serious issue than for other age groups, and the government and local governments are making efforts to address the problem. Prevention of unattended death through monitoring of television signals, artificial intelligence companion robots, and artificial intelligence life management services are part of these efforts (see Report Note 3).
Planning for the aftermath of an unattended death is also essential. Based on the idea of 'social family', government and local governments began in 2007 to support public funeral services for unattended deaths. The public funeral, which was first introduced by Sinan-gun (located in South-West) in 2007 is spreading throughout Korea. Public funerals provide funeral spaces for families in financial difficulties or those without connections. They not only help the deceased to maintain their human dignity, but also support associates of the deceased to mourn together, and then return to their daily lives (Seoul City Public Funeral Support Business Guide).
However, public support for an unattended death cannot be limited only to those without family or associates. Some people actually choose a public funeral due to the burdensome cost of funeral. In 2021, the average cost of a funeral is 13.8 million KRW (around 10,320 USD). Low-income households may have to give up the right to receive the body, voluntarily choosing a public funeral in order to receive economic support. Funeral benefits are paid only 800,000 KRW (around 600 USD) for beneficiary of national basic livelihood recipients*, so that public funeral is the only way for them to take care of their dead relatives.
* Beneficiary of national basic livelihood recipients refers to people who earn less than 50% of median income.
Although public funerals are not just for unattended deaths, the aim of this article is to draw attention to the meaning of local government’s support for those who die unattended, and are without family or relatives. In Korea, more and more individuals are alienated and feel lonely. Korean local governments are aware of the problem, and through invoking the concept of the ‘social family’ and they are trying to help safeguard the human rights for those who die alone. The public funeral can be a national effort to protect the dignity of the deceased.
Of the 245 local governments nationwide, seven metropolitan governments and 49 local governments have established public funeral ordinances. Nearly 80% of local governments have not yet introduced public funeral services for unattended deaths. However, they are likely to prove essential with an increasing number of unattended deaths. It is easy to find recent cases in the media where no one has noticed the death of an older person living alone, and this dead person found after a long time. This shows the present-day reality of Korea, where, unlike in the past, there is less communication between neighbors, and many old people lead solitary and unobserved lives. The public funeral is a way for society to show consideration for its citizens, for members of the same community to behave as the social family of the deceased, and do them the courtesy of acknowledging their passing.
Jaesung Lee (being08@asemgac.org)