South Korea’s cremation rate hits 94% amid rapid ageing, sparking fears of severe facility shortages in major cities like Seoul and Busan.

SEOUL: South Korea’s cremation rate is nearing 95%, raising urgent concerns over a critical shortage of facilities in major cities.

National data shows the cremation rate reached 94% in 2024, up from 92.9% the previous year.

This figure has climbed steadily from just 33.5% in 2000, reflecting a profound shift in funeral practices.

The supply of cremation facilities has failed to keep pace with soaring demand.

Shortages are particularly acute in densely populated areas like Seoul and Busan.

In these major cities, the rate of cremations conducted within three days of death fell significantly below the national average last year.

Seoul recorded 69.6%, while Busan saw 67.1%.

Nationally, the share of prompt cremations has not recovered to pre-pandemic levels.

It stood at 75.5% in 2025, down from 86.2% in 2019.

Experts warn that rapid population ageing will exacerbate the strain on existing infrastructure.

South Korea officially became a super-aged society last year, with over 20% of its population aged 65 or older.

Government projections indicate the annual number of deaths will surge from 310,000 in 2020 to 700,000 by 2070.

This demographic shift underscores the pressing need for more facilities.

The Bank of Korea has suggested privately led, small-scale cremation units as a potential solution.

It specifically recommended introducing small cremators at hospital funeral halls, leveraging their widespread regional distribution.

“Modern technology allows cremation facilities to operate in an environmentally friendly manner,” the central bank noted in a recent report.

It called for a bold overhaul of relevant laws and regulations to facilitate such expansions.

 The Sun Malaysia