[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park Chan-hyeok] Osan City announced on the 8th that it will provide cremation incentives to Osan residents starting this year.
The city made this decision to alleviate the economic burden of residents who must travel to other regions due to the absence of cremation facilities within the city.
Until now, when Osan residents used cremation facilities in other regions, they paid higher cremation fees than residents of those regions.
In response, the city enacted an ordinance to minimize inconvenience for residents and plans to provide cremation incentives starting from January 1 this year for those cremated on or after that date.
Eligible recipients include △bereaved family members of persons with resident registration in Osan City for at least six months as of the date of death who were cremated for their funeral; △bereaved family members who were residents with resident registration in Osan City for at least six months as of the date of death and who cremated a stillborn or an infant who died without birth registration; and △bereaved family members who exhumed graves within the city's jurisdiction and underwent cremation.
The support amount is up to 350,000 won per person, and 70% of the actual cremation facility usage fees will be covered for some of the eligible recipients. To apply for the cremation incentive, applicants must submit related documents such as a cremation certificate and receipt to the Administrative Welfare Center of the ward in the deceased's address.
The city has allocated approximately 394.5 million won in the 2025 budget for this cremation incentive support program and expects approximately 1,127 residents to benefit.
Meanwhile, the city officially expressed its intention to participate in the comprehensive funeral facility construction project being promoted by Pyeongtaek City to fundamentally resolve residents' cremation cost burdens. Osan City Mayor Lee Kwon-jae announced in a coexistence cooperation meeting with Pyeongtaek City in October last year that he would participate in Pyeongtaek City's comprehensive funeral facility construction project.
Accordingly, Osan City and Pyeongtaek City plan to achieve both goals of improving citizen welfare and fostering regional coexistence and cooperation through practical consultations to discuss specific measures.
Osan City Mayor Lee Kwon-jae said, "We have prepared cremation incentives to alleviate the economic burden and inconvenience that residents have experienced due to the absence of cremation facilities in Osan City," and "We expect this to contribute to improving citizen welfare."
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