Boram Sangjo on the 15th proposed "C.U.R.A.T.O.R" by taking the initials in English as the core keyword that will run through next year's funeral service industry. The outlook is that the domestic funeral service industry will move beyond the traditional concept centered on funerals and make a full-fledged transition into a lifecare industry that manages and designs the entire course of customers' lives.
The "C.U.R.A.T.O.R" presented by Boram Sangjo encompasses seven key trends: ▲ customized omni-care (Customized omni-care) ▲ ultimate reliability and tradition (Ultimate Reliability & Tradition) ▲ responsibility for the community (Responsibility for the community) ▲ AI-based funeral services (AI & Digital Evolution) ▲ total lifecare platform strategy (Total Platform Strategy) ▲ strengthening affiliate partnerships with other industries (Optimization of Affiliate partnerships) ▲ redefined memorial experience (Redefined Memorial Experience).
Boram Sangjo said that in the era of 100-year lifespans, the scope of funeral services will not be limited to funerals but will expand across life, including weddings, education, travel, healthcare, and senior care. It also noted that transition services tailored to customers' lifestyles and hyper-personalized memberships will become key factors that determine the competitiveness of funeral services going forward.
It also projected that as the market enters a mature phase, consumers will place greater emphasis on long operating histories and proven service quality when choosing funeral service corporations. The analysis is that trust will be strengthened around corporations with accumulated ceremonial know-how and customer data, and a stable operational foundation.
The social role of funeral service corporations is also expected to expand. Boram Sangjo said funeral service corporations will, from an ESG management standpoint, strengthen activities such as revitalizing local communities, donations, and co-prosperity. It also projected that IT technologies such as AI counseling chatbots, digital memorial services, and AI funeral coordinators will be applied across funeral services, accelerating digital transformation.
In addition, the funeral service industry appears poised to evolve into a lifecare platform that encompasses the entire course of customers' lives through convergence with different industries such as finance, manufacturing, IT, and distribution. The view is that this will build an ecosystem that provides a variety of daily life-focused services with a single funeral product.
Lastly, Boram Sangjo projected that memorial culture will also see change. Memorials will expand beyond simple rituals into personalized experiences that combine technology and culture, and new forms of memorial culture—such as digital permanence, themed funerals, and memorial goods—are expected to spread.