[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Jung Jun-sung] The 'Hwaseong Hambaeksan Memorial Park' held its opening ceremony after 10 years and has begun full-scale operations.
The Hambaeksan Memorial Park, which launched its project in July 2011 with the goal of filling the critical shortage of cremation facilities and realizing warm welfare for citizens through their final moments, gained attention by overcoming the limitations of a NIMBY facility through public recruitment from the outset.
Additionally, as a first nationwide initiative, a total of six cities—Hwaseong, Bucheon, Ansan, Anyang, Siheung, and Gwangmyeong—jointly promoted the project, demonstrating a model of mutual cooperation and collaboration between local governments.
The Hwaseong Hambaeksan Memorial Park was developed as a comprehensive funeral facility on a site of 301,146㎡ in Suksok-ri, Maesong-myeon, Hwaseong, consisting of three buildings (B1 and 2 above-ground floors) with 13 cremation chambers, 8 funeral halls, 25,300 natural burial sites, and 26,514 enshrinement facilities.
The total project cost of 171.4 billion won was shared by the participating cities according to their respective population ratios.
Cremation facility usage fees are set at 160,000 won for residents who have lived in any of the six cities for six months or more, and 1 million won for those living outside the area.
Operations of cremation, enshrinement, and other common facilities are managed by the six municipalities, natural burial sites by Hwaseong City, and the park's restaurant, convenience store, and funeral halls by the Suksok 1-ri Residents Support Council.
This arrangement ensures that profits and benefits generated from the operations of the Hwaseong Hambaeksan Memorial Park are transparently shared between local residents and participating municipalities.
The opening ceremony was attended online via ZOOM by Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung, Director General Go Deuk-young of the Population Policy Bureau of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Hwaseong Mayor Seo Chul-mo, Bucheon Mayor Jang Deok-cheon, Ansan Mayor Yun Hwa-seop, Anyang Mayor Choi Dae-ho, Siheung Mayor Lim Byung-taek, Gwangmyeong Mayor Park Seung-won, as well as National Assembly members Song Ok-ju, Kim Kyung-hyup, Kim Sang-hui, Seo Young-suk, Go Young-in, Kim Nam-guk, Kim Chul-min, Min Byung-deok, Lee Jae-jeong, Kang Deuk-gu, Moon Jung-bok, and Lim O-kyung, 19 provincial council members including Kim In-soon, and approximately 120 heads of eup, myeon, and dong from the six cities. The ceremony proceeded in accordance with COVID-19 quarantine guidelines and included progress reports, opening remarks and congratulatory messages, an opening ceremony, and memorial tree planting.
Meanwhile, the Hwaseong Hambaeksan Memorial Park's cremation chambers will operate in reduced capacity with 4 furnaces per session throughout July, the funeral halls will be available from October, and the tree burial service will become available from July 1 of next year.
Cremation reservations can be made through the e-Haneul Funeral Service System and the Hwaseong Hambaeksan Memorial Park website (www.hsuco.or.kr/hambaeksan).
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