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The Rise, Fraud, and Fall of the Death-Care Industry: Topics and Concerns by Investigative Journalists

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Funeral Rites in Contemporary Korea

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Abstract

Prior to the 1980s, funeral rites in Korea generally took place at home, and funerals away from the deceased’s home were considered negative and thus avoided. However, since the 1980s, funeral rites have often taken place in funeral halls or the halls adjacent to hospital mortuaries (Kim 2012b: 217). Just as Aries (1981: 544, cited in Wernick 1995: 281) noted that ‘no one has time for the dead’, contemporary Koreans, who suffer from a shortage of spare time, if any, wish to minimise time spent on arrangements regarding the deceased.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    For example, in December 2018, there was a brochure for pre-paid funeral services in an Australian magazine my friend bought. She also noticed many TV ads for pre-paid funerals. However, she indicated it may not be as prevalent as what I describe in Korea. It is not customary, for example, for the body to have a funeral outfit—‘Australians’ are more likely to see off the deceased in their favourite clothes from life.

  2. 2.

    See, for example, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_Ozl30B0G4, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E18xlHWPCNM, both of which were aired through telemarketing.

  3. 3.

    Sangjo literally means ‘mutual help’ in the sense that the members of a community were willing to help each other in any major happy and sad events such as 1st or 60th birthdays, weddings and funerals. The culture of providing complimentary labour today is less common although financial contribution in the form of ‘give and take’ continues. This reflects the culture of professionalisation and the increase in disposable income.

  4. 4.

    시사상조신문. 23 August 2016. ‘상조산업의 사회적 필요성 (Social necessity of the sangjo industry)’, http://www.sisasangjo.co.kr/view.php?uid=6660. Accessed 8/8/2018.

  5. 5.

    상조매거진. 4 January 2018. ‘2018년 상조업계 대전망…회원 수 600만 시대 개막 (A bright prospect of 2018 sangjo industry … the start of the new era with 6 million members)’, http://www.sangjomagazine.com/sub_read.html?uid=2116&section=sc4. Accessed 23/5/2018.

  6. 6.

    Korean Fair Trade Commission 24 July (cited in, Ju 2010: 316).

  7. 7.

    ChosunBiz. 7 July 2015. ‘상조업체 자본금 하한 3억원에서 15억원으로 상향 (Funeral service company’s seeding capital increase from $0.3 million to $1.5 million)’, http://biz.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2015/07/07/2015070700843.html. Accessed 24/7/2016.

  8. 8.

    For example, ‘카네이션B&B상조보험 (Kaneisyeon B&B Sangjo Insurance)’ experienced its membership increase from 300 per month in 2009, to 1181 in March 2010, 1932 in April 2010, and 2113 in May 2010; and ‘녹십자생명 웰엔딩 효보험 (Green Cross Well-ending Filial Piety Insurance)’ started its business on 17 May 2010 and recruited 3000 members in a month (Ju 2010: 320). See http://m.dailycnc.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=4593. Accessed 5/8/2016.

  9. 9.

    I argue that the recent legislation of Kim Young-Ran’s anti-bribery regulation is to prevent culturally-driven bribery and corruption in Korean society.

  10. 10.

    Kim Seong-Tae. 29 June 2015. ‘상조산업 성장 저해하는 할부거래법 개정 (Amendment of the prepaid instalment business hinders the growth of funeral service industry)’, 상조매거진 (Funeral Service Industry Magazine), 29 June, http://www.sangjomagazine.com/sub_read.html?uid=1346&section=sc4&sect.2=%BB%F3%C1%B6%C0%CF%B9%DD. Accessed 7/8/2016.

  11. 11.

    Kim, Kyu-Bin. 2 August 2017. ‘줄줄이 문 닫는 상조업체들, 활로는 결합상품? (Sangjo companies keep on closing down, are the free gifts the way to enliven the industry?)’, http://stv.mediaon.co.kr/news/article.html?no=45799. Accessed 11/8/2017.

  12. 12.

    Kim Seong-Tae. 2015. ‘상조산업 성장 저해하는 할부거래법 개정 (Amendment of the prepaid instalment business hinders the growth of funeral service industry)’. February 12.

  13. 13.

    Kim Seong-Tae. 2015. ‘상조산업 성장 저해하는 할부거래법 개정 (Amendment of the prepaid instalment business hinders the growth of funeral service industry)’.

  14. 14.

    상조매거진, 29 June 2015. ‘상조산업 성장 저해하는 할부거래법 개정 (Amendment of the prepaid instalment business hinders the growth of funeral service industry)’, http://www.sangjomagazine.com/sub_read.html?uid=1346&section=sc4. Accessed 17/7/2017.

  15. 15.

    상조매거진, 29 June 2015. ‘상조산업 성장 저해하는 할부거래법 개정 (Amendment of the prepaid instalment business hinders the growth of funeral service industry).

  16. 16.

    상조매거진. 12 February 2014. ‘장례식장 불법행위, 무엇이 문제인가 (Unlawful behaviours at funeral halls, what are the problems?)’, http://www.sangjomagazine.com/sub_read.html?uid=991&section=sc4. Accessed 20/7/2017.

  17. 17.

    Today, Koreans have a tendency to look down upon Chinese-made goods. There are both valid and invalid reasons for this trend.

  18. 18.

    상조매거진. 12 February 2014. ‘장례식장 불법행위, 무엇이 문제인가 (Unlawful behaviours at funeral halls, what are the problems?)’.

  19. 19.

    상조매거진. 12 February 2014. ‘장례식장 불법행위, 무엇이 문제인가’.

  20. 20.

    상조매거진. 12 February 2014. ‘장례식장 불법행위, 무엇이 문제인가 (Unlawful behaviours at funeral halls, what are the problems?)’.

  21. 21.

    상조매거진. 12 February 2014. ‘장례식장 불법행위, 무엇이 문제인가 (Unlawful behaviours at funeral halls, what are the problems?)’.

  22. 22.

    상조매거진. 12 February 2014. ‘장례식장 불법행위, 무엇이 문제인가’.

  23. 23.

    상조매거진. 12 February 2014. ‘장례식장 불법행위, 무엇이 문제인가 (Unlawful behaviours at funeral halls, what are the problems?)’.

  24. 24.

    Cf. Park Jong-Min. 2016. 영구차 (Hearse), http://folkency.nfm.go.kr/kr/topic/영구차/315, Encyclopaedia of Korean Folk Culture), 18 October. Accessed on 2 July 2017.

  25. 25.

    상조매거진. 12 February 2014. ‘장례식장 불법행위, 무엇이 문제인가 (Unlawful behaviours at funeral halls, what are the problems?).

  26. 26.

    상조매거진. 12 February 2014. ‘장례식장 불법행위, 무엇이 문제인가’.

  27. 27.

    상조장례뉴스 (Sangjo Funeral News). 10 July 2014. [칼럼]장례, 빈익빈 부익부 상조상품 프리미엄 상품선호: 상조상품 240만원 부터 수 천 만원까지 천태만상 위화감 조성 (Column—Funeral, funeral products for the rich and the poor, premium product is preferred: product costing $2400 to a few hundred thousand dollars, creating a sense of incongruity), http://www.sjnews.co.kr/news_gisa/gisa_view.htm?gisa_idx=36816. Accessed 30 May 2018.

  28. 28.

    상조장례뉴스. 10 July 2014. ‘[칼럼]장례,빈익빈 부익부 상조상품 프리미엄 상품선호 (Column—Funeral, funeral products for the rich and the poort, premium product is preferred: product costing $2400 to a few hundred thousand dollars, creating a sense of incongruity)’, http://www.sjnews.co.kr/news_gisa/gisa_view.htm?gisa_idx=36816. Accessed 25/5/2018.

  29. 29.

    상조장례뉴스. 10 July 2014. ‘[칼럼]장례,빈익빈 부익부 상조상품 프리미엄 상품선호’.

  30. 30.

    상조장례뉴스. 10 July 2014. ‘[칼럼]장례,빈익빈 부익부 상조상품 프리미엄 상품선호’.

  31. 31.

    상조장례뉴스. 10 July 2014. ‘[칼럼]장례,빈익빈 부익부 상조상품 프리미엄 상품선호’.

  32. 32.

    상조장례뉴스. 6 November 2010. ‘상조가입 10명중 약 8명 영업 신문 TV 광고 통해 (Joining sangjo service, 8 out 10 through the newspaper and TV advertisements)’, http://www.sjnews.co.kr/bbs/reviewc/3439. Accessed 23/8/2017. Also see ‘상조서비스 소비자 만족도 비교정보 (Consumers’ level of satisfaction about their use of sangjo service)’ in Smart Consumer, https://www.consumer.go.kr/user/ftc/consumer/cnsmrBBS/80/selectInfoCmprDetail.do?infoId=00830324.

  33. 33.

    상조장례뉴스. 6 November 2010. ‘상조가입 10명중 약 8명 영업 신문 TV 광고 통해’.

  34. 34.

    ‘상조서비스 소비자 만족도 비교정보 (Consumers’ level of satisfaction about their use of sangjo service)’ in Smart Consumer.

  35. 35.

    경향신문. 20 March 2013. ‘현대종합상조, 한라상조 인수 (Hyundai Comprehensive Sangjo takes over Halla Sangjo)’, http://biz.khan.co.kr/khan_art_view.html?artid=201303202204235&code=920401. Accessed 26/7/2017.

  36. 36.

    Lee, Jong-Cheol. 5 March 2012. ‘한라상조, 상조사상 최대 5억여원 수당청구 소송당해 (Halla Sangjo, taken to court, accused of not paying the allowance of $0.5 million in total)’, Sangjo Jangrye News, 5 March. http://www.sjnews.co.kr/news_gisa/gisa_view.htm?gisa_idx=24752. Accessed 26/7/2017.

  37. 37.

    Lee, Jong-Cheol. 2012. ‘한라상조, 상조사상 최대 5억여원 수당청구 소송당해 (Halla Sangjo, taken to court, accused of not paying the allowance of $0.5 million in total)’.

  38. 38.

    상조 장례뉴스. 5 March 2012. ‘한라상조, 상조사상 최대 5억여원 수당청구 소송당해 (Halla Sangjo, taken to court, accused of not paying the allowance of $0.5 million in total)’, http://www.sjnews.co.kr/news_gisa/gisa_view.htm?gisa_idx=24752. Accessed 26/7/2017.

  39. 39.

    상조 장례뉴스. 5 March 2012. ‘한라상조, 상조사상 최대 5억여원 수당청구 소송당해’.

  40. 40.

    상조 장례뉴스. 5 March 2012. ‘한라상조, 상조사상 최대 5억여원 수당청구 소송당해’.

  41. 41.

    경향신문. 20 March 2013. ‘현대종합상조, 한라상조 인수 (Hyundai Comprehensive Sangjo takes over Halla Sangjo)’.

  42. 42.

    상조 장례뉴스. 30 October 2010. ‘검찰수사! 상조업 초토화 언제까지 … (Prosecutor’s investigation scouring the whole sangjo industry, how long will this continue …)’, http://www.sjnews.co.kr/bbs_shop/read.htm?board_code=reviewc&idx=3336&poll_view=1. Accessed 23/8/2017. 시사상조뉴스 was equally concerned about the sangjo companies’ unethical business activities and argued for the police investigation of the malpractices and protection of the customers, see 시사상조뉴스. 4 November 2015. ‘부실한 상조공제조합 압수수색 후 철저히 규명해야 (The unhealthy Sangjo Co-operative Association be under search & seizure and be dealt with)’, http://www.ssnews.tv/news/articleView.html?idxno=5320. Accessed 23/11/2017.

  43. 43.

    상조 장례뉴스. 30 October 2010. ‘검찰수사! 상조업 초토화 언제까지’.

  44. 44.

    상조 매거진. 2 October 2014. ‘서울지방경찰청, 상조회사 불법 리베이트 “철퇴” (Seoul police department, cleansing sangjo company’s illegal rebating), http://www.sangjomagazine.com/sub_read.html?uid=1108&section=sc4. Accessed 30 May 2018; 상조 매거진. 12 February 2014. ‘장례식장 불법행위, 무엇이 문제인가 (Unlawful behaviours at funeral halls, what are the problems?)’, http://www.sangjomagazine.com/sub_read.html?uid=991&section=sc4. Accessed 20/7/2017.

  45. 45.

    The company changed its name to 더리본 (The Reborn) in January 2017.

  46. 46.

    상조 장례뉴스. 27 October 2010. ‘KNN라이프 “우리사주 10만주 무상증여” 약속지켜’. http://sjnews1.anyfree.co.kr/news_gisa/gisa_view.htm?gisa_category=04020000&gisa_idx=6831. Accessed 28/7/2017.

  47. 47.

    일상리뷰 (Everyday Review). 26 October 2008. ‘을지대학교 장례지도학과 연봉은 2700만원?’, http://ori39.tistory.com/2380. Accessed 30/7/2017; Tistory. 4 November 2015. ‘장례지도사 연봉과 근무환경 낱낱이 공개 (Funeral professional: annual salary and working conditions)’, http://welldying.tistory.com/14. Accessed 23/8/2017.

  48. 48.

    상조 장례뉴스. 27 October 2010. ‘KNN라이프 “우리사주 10만주 무상증여” 약속지켜’.

  49. 49.

    상조 장례뉴스. 21 July 2014. ‘KNN라이프,상조업계 해약율2배,사외 현금유출 70%’, http://www.sjnews.co.kr/news/36823. Accessed 30/7/2017.

  50. 50.

    시사IN. 5 March 2010. ‘노인들 놀이터: “홍보관” 사기 상술 (The playground for the older people: a fraud through the promotion hall)’, http://www.sisain.co.kr/?mod=news&act=articleView&idxno=6630. Accessed 11/3/2018.

  51. 51.

    시사IN. 5 March 2010. ‘노인들 놀이터: “홍보관” 사기 상술’.

  52. 52.

    SBS News. 27 July 2014. ‘노인 울린 상조업체…’싸구려 수의’를 16배 뻥튀기 (A sangjo company cheats the older people … low quality funeral clothes sold 16 times more expensive)’, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HasoVpBs3c. Accessed 1/8/2017.

  53. 53.

    상조장례뉴스. 21 January 2013. ‘떳다방, 상품 구매하지 않으면 미안하게 만드는 “상술” (A temporary shopping centre, feeling bad if not purchasing the marketed items)’, http://www.sjnews.co.kr/news_gisa/gisa_view.htm?gisa_idx=35629. Accessed 1/8/2017; Yonhab News TV. 29 September 2016. ‘“자녀 부담 덜어주세요” … 노인 울리는 ‘바가지’ 상조 떳다방 (Reduce the burden of your children … tteotda-bang sangjo marketing exploits the older population)’, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l80Ljnam2bg. Accessed 1/8/2017.

  54. 54.

    In Korean society, there is a strong nationalistic culture of looking down upon the products from China often for legitimate reasons, but not always legitimate enough. The phrase, ‘the cheap Chinese-made’ reflects a common public perception of many Chinese products.

  55. 55.

    상조장례뉴스. 29 July 2014. ‘서울광역수사대, 대천명 신춘식 대표 외 70명 검거 발표 (Seoul City Investigation, Dae Cheon Myeong’s CEO and 70 arrested)’, http://www.sjnews.co.kr/news_gisa/gisa_view.htm?gisa_idx=37158. Accessed 1/8/2018.

  56. 56.

    상조장례뉴스. 29 July 2014. ‘서울광역수사대, 대천명 신춘식 대표 외 70명 검거 발표’.

  57. 57.

    상조장례뉴스. 3 June 2016. ‘대천명,신춘식 대표 불법 떴다방 운영 징역 3년 복역 중 (Shin Chun-Sik, CEO of Dae Cheon Myeong, serving a 3 year jail term for illegal marketing)’, http://www.sjnews.co.kr/news/42853. Accessed 2/8/2017.

  58. 58.

    상조장례뉴스. 3 June 2016. ‘대천명,신춘식 대표 불법 떴다방 운영 징역 3년 복역 중’.

  59. 59.

    OhmyNews. 4 May 2007. ‘삼베 수의(壽衣)는 전통 아니라 일제 식민지 산물 (Hemp-made funeral clothes are not traditional funeral clothes, but a remnant of Japanese colonialism)’, http://www.ohmynews.com/NWS_Web/View/at_pg.aspx?CNTN_CD=A0000408367. Accessed 29/5/2018.

  60. 60.

    상조장례뉴스. 22 November 2010. ‘업체 탐방 예다함의 초라한 성적 500억 자본금 3만명? (A closer look: Yedaham’s poor record, $50 million start-up capital and 30,000 customers?)’, http://www.sjnews.co.kr/bbs/reviewc/3616. Accessed 2/8/2017; 상조장례뉴스. 15 April 2015. ‘THE-K 예다함, 증정품 주고도 도마에 오른 내막, 소비자 ‘우대’ 아닌 ‘우롱 했다’(The-K Yedaham, providing gift with the products but still under criticism—ridiculing the consumers)’, http://www.sjnews.co.kr/bbs/wagle/12187. Accessed 3/8/2017; 일요시사 (Sunday Current Affairs). 22 December 2014. ‘상조업체 예다함 “이상한 광고” 논란 (Controversy over Yedaham’s strange advertisement)’, http://www.ilyosisa.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=75098. Accessed 3/8/2017.

  61. 61.

    The word means ‘displaying a virtue’ or in this context, showing all the respect to the deceased.

  62. 62.

    상조장례뉴스. 22 November 2010. ‘업체 탐방 예다함의 초라한 성적 500억 자본금 3만명?’; 경향신문. 19 April 2016. ‘회사재산 빼돌리고 환급금 떼먹은 상조회사 대표 구속’, http://news.khan.co.kr/kh_news/khan_art_view.html?artid=201604191036001&code=940202. Accessed 3/8/2016.

  63. 63.

    상조장례뉴스. 22 November 2010. ‘업체 탐방 예다함의 초라한 성적 500억 자본금 3만명?’.

  64. 64.

    상조장례뉴스. 22 November 2010. ‘업체 탐방 예다함의 초라한 성적 500억 자본금 3만명?’.

  65. 65.

    상조장례뉴스. 22 November 2010. ‘업체 탐방 예다함의 초라한 성적 500억 자본금 3만명?’.

  66. 66.

    상조 매거진. 23 May 2011. ‘예다함, ‘영업손실 139억’… 48억 매출에 광고비 80억’, http://www.sangjomagazine.com/sub_read.html?uid=363&section=sc4. Accessed 2/8/2017.

  67. 67.

    Cited in 상조장례뉴스. 22 November 2010. ‘업체 탐방 예다함의 초라한 성적 500억 자본금 3만명?’.

  68. 68.

    상조 매거진. 23 May 2011. ‘예다함, ‘영업손실 139억’… 48억 매출에 광고비 80억’.

  69. 69.

    상조 매거진. 23 May 2011. ‘예다함, ‘영업손실 139억’ … 48억 매출에 광고비 80억’; 상조장례뉴스. 15 April 2015. THE-K 예다함, 증정품 주고도 도마에 오른 내막, 소비자 ‘우대’ 아닌 ‘우롱 했다’(The-K Yedaham, providing gift with the products but still under criticism—ridiculing the consumers)’, http://www.sjnews.co.kr/bbs/wagle/12187. Accessed 3/8/2017.

  70. 70.

    상조 매거진. 23 May 2011. ‘예다함, ‘영업손실 139억’ … 48억 매출에 광고비 80억’.

  71. 71.

    상조장례뉴스. 10 February 2015. 동아상조, 상조업계 14위 18년 역사속으로 사라지다 (DongA Sangjo, ranked 14, now a past history after 18 years in business)’, http://www.sjnews.co.kr/news_gisa/gisa_view.htm?gisa_idx=38370. Accessed 4/8/2017.

  72. 72.

    한국상조공제조합.

  73. 73.

    상조장례뉴스. 27 February 2015. ‘동아상조 왜 망했나? 150만 만기상품 380만원 추가강요 (Why did DongA Sangjo fall? Paying for the full term, yet required to pay extra premium)’, http://www.sjnews.co.kr/news_gisa/gisa_view.htm?gisa_idx=38407. Accessed 4/8/2017.

  74. 74.

    상조장례뉴스. 27 February 2015. ‘동아상조 왜 망했나? 150만 만기상품 380만원 추가강요’.

  75. 75.

    상조장례뉴스. 13 February 2015. ‘동아상조 왜 망했나? 50억원 매각설 사실일까? (Why did DongA Sangjo fall? Is it true it may be sold for $5 million?)’, http://www.sjnews.co.kr/news_gisa/gisa_view.htm?gisa_idx=38374. Accessed 4/8/2017.

  76. 76.

    상조장례뉴스. 10 February 2015. ‘동아상조, 상조업계 14위 18년 역사속으로 사라지다 (DongA Sangjo, ranked 14, now a past history after 18 years in business)’, http://www.sjnews.co.kr/news_gisa/gisa_view.htm?gisa_idx=38370. Accessed 4/8/2017.

  77. 77.

    상조장례뉴스. 13 February 2015. 동아상조 왜 망했나? 50억원 매각설 사실일까? (Why did DongA Sangjo fall? Is it true it may be sold for $5 million?)’.

  78. 78.

    상조장례뉴스. 13 February 2015. ‘동아상조 왜 망했나? 50억원 매각설 사실일까?’.

  79. 79.

    중앙일보. 21 April 2016. ‘울산시 “동아상조 가입자 피해보상청구 서둘러야” (Ulsan City needs to hurry up helping to compensate the Donga Sangjo victims)’, http://news.joins.com/article/19918636. Accessed 4/4/2017.

  80. 80.

    Korea Sangjo Mutual Aid Cooperative (상조보증공제조합) helping out: Areumdaun Life Co., Jeil Sangjo Co., Younhap Sangjo Co., Asan Sangjo Jonghap Service Co., and S.H. Life Co. See 시사상조뉴스. 8 June 2016. ‘공제조합 부실로 상조피해 해답 없는 나락으로 떨어져’ (Sangjo cooperative associations without power: no way to rescue sangjo victims)’, http://www.ssnews.tv/news/articleView.html?idxno=5627. Accessed 3/8/2017.

  81. 81.

    시사상조뉴스. 8 June 2016. ‘공제조합 부실로 상조피해 해답 없는 나락으로 떨어져’.

  82. 82.

    시사상조뉴스. 8 June 2016. ‘공제조합 부실로 상조피해 해답 없는 나락으로 떨어져’.

  83. 83.

    한국일보. 31 August 2016. ‘폐업 국민상조 대표, 경찰 출석 앞두고 목매 숨진 채 발견 (Kookmin Sangjo CEO found dead as he was under police investigation)’, http://www.hankookilbo.com/v/9552670b58e046c68b5fcfb60e1529ef. Accessed 3/8/2017.

  84. 84.

    상조장례뉴스. 21 May 2015. ‘공정위 “상조업 관리 감독 자격상실” 당장 손 떼라 (Fair Trade Commission, unfit to supervise the funeral industry)’, http://www.sjnews.co.kr/news_gisa/gisa_view.htm?gisa_idx=38448. Accessed 6/8/2017.

  85. 85.

    상조장례뉴스. 21 May 2015. ‘공정위 “상조업 관리 감독 자격상실” 당장 손 떼라’.

  86. 86.

    상조 매거진. 12 February 2014. ‘장례식장 불법행위, 무엇이 문제인가’.

  87. 87.

    상조 매거진. 12 February 2015. ‘상조산업 성장 저해하는 할부거래법 개정 (Amendment of the prepaid instalment business hinders the growth of funeral service industry)’, http://www.sangjomagazine.com/sub_read.html?uid=1346&section=sc4. Accessed 17/7/2017.

  88. 88.

    소비자연합타임스. 12 April 2016. ‘공정위가 상조업 전체를 망하게 하고 있다 (Fair Trade Commission is leading all the sangjo companies to fall)’, http://www.ytimes.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=31459. Accessed 7/8/2017.

  89. 89.

    시사상조뉴스. 15 July 2016. ‘한국상조공제조합의 추락, “상조대란” 현실로 드러나 (Demise of Korea Mutual Aid Cooperative Association: the sangjo industry is now in big chaos)’, http://www.ssnews.tv/news/articleView.html?idxno=5686. Accessed 7/8/2017; 시사상조뉴스. 1 June 2016. ‘한국상조공제조합 방탄수사 이제 마침표?—2 (A “protective investigation” of Korea Mutual Aid Cooperative Association: What can be done—Part 2)’, http://www.ssnews.tv/news/articleView.html?idxno=5616. Accessed 7/8/2017.

  90. 90.

    시사상조뉴스. 15 July 2016. ‘한국상조공제조합의 추락, “상조대란” 현실로 드러나’.

  91. 91.

    시사상조뉴스. 1 June 2016. ‘한국상조공제조합 방탄수사 이제 마침표?—2’.

  92. 92.

    시사상조뉴스. 12 April 2016. ‘사라진 상조공제자금 1조 원 누가 책임질 것인가? (Who will be responsible for the missing sangjo co-op fund, $1.2 billion?)’, http://www.ssnews.tv/news/articleView.html?idxno=5405. Accessed 7/8/2017.

  93. 93.

    시사상조뉴스. 20 June 2016. ‘한국상조공제조합, 공제계약회사 공제계약 기간 명시 못해 의구심 증푹 (Korea Mutual Aid Cooperative Association: No indication of the contract period between the association and individual firms—a concern)’, http://www.ssnews.tv/news/articleView.html?idxno=5643. Accessed 7/8/2017.

  94. 94.

    상조 매거진. 12 February 2014. ‘장례식장 불법행위, 무엇이 문제인가’.

  95. 95.

    시사상조뉴스. 1 October 2015. ‘선수금 50% 예치한 상조회사 얼마나 되나, 공정위 직무유기 해당 (How many firms have reserved 50% of the premiums that the customers paid? Fair Trade Commission irresponsible for not checking upon this matter)’, http://www.ssnews.tv/news/articleView.html?idxno=5226. Accessed 7/8/2017.

  96. 96.

    시사상조뉴스. 4 February 2016. ‘한국상조협회 상조법 개선 제안, 국민대통합위원회 접수 (Korea Sangjo Association suggests the reform of the business regulations on the instalment act, now registered at the Presidential Committee for National Cohesion)’, http://www.ssnews.tv/news/articleView.html?idxno=5486. Accessed 7/8/2017.

  97. 97.

    한국장례신문 (The Korea Funeral News), 27 November 2014, ‘한·일 장례산업의 현재와 미래 (Funeral industry in Korea and Japan: present and future)’, http://www.kfn1004.co.kr/bbs/board.php?bo_table=category_11&wr_id=422. Accessed 29/5/2018.

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    Gil-Soo Han

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Han, GS. (2019). The Rise, Fraud, and Fall of the Death-Care Industry: Topics and Concerns by Investigative Journalists. In: Funeral Rites in Contemporary Korea. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-7852-2_6

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