The cremation rate in South Korea has been steadily increasing, reaching 94% in 2024 from 92.9% the previous year. This upward trend has been consistent over the past decades, starting at 33.5% in 2000 and rising to 67.5% in 2010 and 89.9% in 2020. However, the supply of cremation facilities has not matched the growing demand, leading to shortages, especially in densely populated cities like Seoul.
Experts highlight that the share of cremations done within three days of death dropped from 86.2% in 2019 to 73.6% in 2022 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite some recovery to 75.5% in 2025, it has not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels. In Seoul and Busan, the rates were 69.6% and 67.1% respectively, both below the national average.
South Korea faces challenges as it transitions to a super-aged society, with over 20% of its population aged 65 and older. The government anticipates a significant increase in annual deaths, from 310,000 in 2020 to 700,000 in 2070. To address the growing demand, experts suggest the need for additional cremation facilities, including small-scale units at hospital funeral halls, leveraging modern technology for environmentally friendly operations.
