Yangju City to Launch Citizens-Exclusive Memorial Repository 'Yangju City Memorial Hall' Starting Next Month

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Im Hong-soon] Yangju City announced on the 6th that it will commence operations of the 'Yangju City Memorial Hall,' which was created through a usage agreement with 'Heaven Peace Memorial Park,' a funeral facility within the city, starting October 1st.

Since 2015, the city has been operating a memorial repository and natural burial site at the 'Heaven Tteul Park' in Gyeongsin-ri, Nam-myeon. The natural burial site reached capacity in June, and the memorial repository is also expected to reach capacity soon.

Accordingly, the city signed a usage agreement with (Foundation) Zoan Park last year to establish the Yangju City Memorial Hall with a capacity of 4,010 units on the 2nd floor of the memorial repository building within 'Heaven Peace Memorial Park' located in Sanbuk-dong, Yangju City, and held an unveiling ceremony in January of this year.

The Yangju City Memorial Hall is available for enshrinement of deceased Yangju City residents who have resided in the city for 3 or more years. The usage fee is 700,000 won (annual management fee 60,000 won, paid for 5 years in advance), and the enshrinement period is 15 years (one extension possible).

To ensure more citizens benefit practically, transfers or enshrinement of remains from other memorial repositories are restricted, and enshrinement is only possible within 30 days of death.

A city official stated, "We believe this usage agreement, implemented in accordance with government policies, is a commendable precedent nationwide," and added, "As the memorial repository will reach capacity following the natural burial site, citizens would be forced to use expensive private memorial repositories. We are committed to providing convenient and economical funeral procedures to our residents."