Joint Crematorium Plan: Will Yangju and Yeoncheon Collaborate for a Sustainable Future?

Jeong Deok-young, Yangju mayoral candidate, proposes joint participation with Yeoncheon County; Yangju regional crematorium raises concerns over the city's image. Democratic Party councilors from five cities and counties back participation in the Yeoncheon crematorium. Yeoncheon County's comprehensive funeral facility aims for completion in 2030

On March 16, Jeong Deok-young, the Democratic Party candidate for Yangju mayor, visited the planned site for Yeoncheon County’s comprehensive funeral facility and proposed that Yangju join Yeoncheon as an alternative to building a regional crematory in Yangju.

Jeong said the proposal reflects concerns about Yangju’s development and responds to local residents’ opposition and the central government’s decision to reevaluate the project.

The site visit included Democratic Party Yangju Council Vice Chair Choi Soo-yeon; councilors Lee Ji-yeon and Han Sang-min; Yeoncheon County councilors Park Yang-hee and Yoon Jae-gu; Dongducheon councilors Kim Jae-soo and Im Hyun-suk; Pocheon councilor Kim Hyun-gyu; and Namyangju councilor Lee Soo-ryeon.

Jeong criticized the regional crematory planned by current Yangju Mayor Kang Su-hyeon, saying it sits in the city’s center and risks reducing Yangju’s standing as an emerging regional hub in northern Gyeonggi Province to the image of the old Byeokje crematory. He said that if elected mayor he would abandon the current plan and either participate in Yeoncheon’s regional crematory project or build a smaller crematory on Yangju’s outskirts.

The Democratic Party councilors from the five cities and counties who attended also voiced strong support for Yeoncheon’s regional crematory plan and confirmed they would consider formally joining the Yeoncheon facility as an alternative after the local election.

Democratic Party councilors from Yangju and Yeoncheon reaffirmed the spirit of the cooperation agreement they signed on Nov. 24, 2024, to jointly use Yeoncheon’s comprehensive funeral facility and pledged to coordinate their efforts.

Jeong said all attendees agreed that nearby municipalities participating in Yeoncheon’s project would save time and money, and he emphasized that this approach best reflects Yangju’s future interests and the will of its citizens.

Yeoncheon County plans to build a public comprehensive funeral facility — including a crematory, natural burial grounds, and an ossuary — at San 189, Dapgok-ri, Sinseo-myeon, with a total project cost of about 110.6 billion KRW (approximately $82,950,000). The county aims to complete the facility by 2030.

Notably, Democratic Party councilors from Uijeongbu City Council — the area’s largest council — were absent, prompting interest in how they will proceed.

Yangju—Reporter Heo Kyung-tae hkt0029@viva100.com