A funeral service worker is holding a box of ashes from a deceased animal in this photo provided by the Seoul Metropolitan Government.
SEOUL, July 10 (Korea Bizwire) — The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Sunday it will initiate a trial for the country’s inaugural funeral services for pets owned by vulnerable groups until December 19.
The objective of this initiative is to reduce funeral expenses for pets and encourage a healthy culture surrounding animal funerals.
Pet owners who are unable to visit an animal cremation center due to various reasons will have the option to enroll in the funeral service. A funeral director will be dispatched to the pet owner’s residence.
Subsequently, the deceased pet will undergo sanitation procedures and be placed in a morgue for a designated period before being transferred to an animal cremation center in Gyeonggi Province for cremation.
The city will bear the cost of the funeral, which includes processing, storage, and transportation. However, the pet owner will be responsible for covering the expenses related to cremation and other additional costs.
Six funeral centers, which are members of the Korea Animal Funeral Association, will grant a discount of 50,000 to 70,000 won (US$38-53) per pet for cremation services.
The cost of basic funeral services ranges from 50,000 to 70,000 won, while cremation expenses range from 200,000 to 550,000 won depending on the size of the animal.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
