While South Korea’s economy has experienced strong growth in recent decades, another troubling statistic has grown as well. For years now, South Korea has had the second-highest rate of suicide in the world. Public and private programs have been developed to address the problem, and one getting notice lately is called “Happy Dying.” The program, led by Mr. Kim Ki-ho brings participants together to reflect on their lives by experiencing their own fake funeral. They write their own eulogies, make out mock wills, and pen farewell notes. Then, they dress in traditional burial linens, climb into coffins in a darkened room, and meditate on their lives for 30 minutes. Responses vary, but many said that acting out their own deaths made them appreciate their lives more, and consider the consequences of their deaths more seriously.
Learning Life Lessons by Faking One's Own Funeral
-
![]()
Read moreParticipants wearing linen shrouds meditate and think about their lives as they lie in coffins during a "Death Experience/Fake Funeral" session held by Happy Dying on August 1, 2016, in Andong, South Korea. #
Jean Chung / Getty -
-
![]()
Read moreParticipants write their biography and the words on their own tombstone while looking at their own funeral photos in a "Death Experience/Fake Funeral" session on August 1, 2016 in Andong, South Korea. #
Jean Chung / Getty -
![]()
Read moreParticipants become emotional during a "Death Experience/Fake Funeral" session in Andong on August 1, 2016. #
Jean Chung / Getty -
![]()
Read moreA woman participating in a "Death Experience/Fake Funeral" session in South Korea writes her biography and the words on her own tombstone while looking at her funeral photo. #
Jean Chung / Getty -
-
![]()
Read moreA participant walks amid the coffins during a self-help session held by Happy Dying on August 1, 2016. #
Jean Chung / Getty -
![]()
Read moreParticipants wear traditional linen shrouds before lying down in coffins during a "Death Experience/Fake Funeral" session. #
Jean Chung / Getty -
![]()
Read moreSouth Koreans wearing linen shrouds sit inside coffins during a self-help session on August 1, 2016. #
Jean Chung / Getty -
-
![]()
Read moreParticipants become emotional during their "Death Experience/Fake Funeral" session. #
Jean Chung / Getty -
![]()
Read moreA death master wearing a black robe covers the eyes and binds the wrists of participants during their own fake funerals. #
Jean Chung / Getty -
![]()
Read moreA participant wearing a linen shroud meditates and thinks about his life as he lies in a coffin. #
Jean Chung / Getty -
-
![]()
Read moreA death master binds the wrists of a participant. #
Jean Chung / Getty -
![]()
Read morePeople wearing linen shrouds meditate and reflect on their lives as they lie in coffins on August 1, 2016 in Andong, South Korea. #
Jean Chung / Getty -
![]()
Read morePeople lie in coffins with lids closed as they meditate on their lives on August 1, 2016. #
Jean Chung / Getty -
-
![]()
Read moreParticipants meditate inside coffins in a darkened room for 30 minutes, their funeral photos illuminated by candlelight on August 1, 2016 in Andong, South Korea. #
Jean Chung / Getty
We want to hear what you think about this article. Submit a letter to the editor or write to letters@theatlantic.com.