Funeral service company Woongjin Preed Life said on the 24th that it has officially opened a "funeral director Training Institute" to foster specialized funeral personnel.
The opening of the Training Institute aims to establish a system that supports, in a one-stop manner, everything from obtaining the state-certified funeral director license to job placement at mutual aid companies and partner funeral halls. Through this, the company said it plans to raise social awareness of funeral directors and build a high-quality training base to present a new vision for the funeral profession.
Woongjin Preed Life held an opening ceremony on the 23rd at the main auditorium of the Training Institute in Paju, Gyeonggi Province. About 100 people attended, including 30 first-cohort trainees, 50 ceremonial directors, 20 executives and employees of Woongjin group and Woongjin Preed Life, and the secretary-general of the Korea Sangjo Industry Association (KSIA).
The Training Institute was established with the goal of nurturing practical specialists who can be deployed to the field immediately. The first cohort will run for about nine weeks from late February to mid-April, operating as a 300-hour standard curriculum consisting of 150 hours of theory, 100 hours of practicum, and 50 hours of field training.
Courses are organized with a field focus, including funeral counseling, management of burial facilities, hygiene management, practical training in washing and shrouding and burial methods, and funeral-related laws and administration. The instructors are active funeral directors with more than 10 years of experience, providing case-based instruction alongside one-on-one mentoring.
The Training Institute systematically supports theoretical education and mock tests for qualification acquisition, as well as evaluations of field training, and offers benefits to graduates such as extra points in Woongjin Preed Life hiring and job placement connections with partner funeral halls. Additional support includes textbook subsidies, provision of uniforms and welcome kits, and on-the-job training (OJT).
Yoon Seok-geum, chairman of Woongjin group, said, "Congratulations to the first-cohort trainees who were selected through fierce competition," and added, "Love for the work, a positive attitude, and an eagerness to keep learning will complete your value as funeral directors."
Moon Ho-sang, CEO of Woongjin Preed Life, said, "Ceremonial directors are directors who oversee the entire funeral process and are specialized roles that cannot be replaced even in the AI era," and added, "We hope you grow into professionals who share the most noble moments, grounded in humanity that respects life and death."