Korean Job Discussion Forums

[FastForward]

My girlfriends grandmother passed away last night. I inquired about the funeral and was informed it was 3 days long. She will be there all day for three days. Am I expected to go for three days straight as well? I've neve met her grandmother and was planning to go for 1-2 hours tomorrow to pay my respects. Would this seem disrespectful?

[Cave Dweller]

Why not go there and get loaded with the rest of the family? It will bring your own funeral a little closer.

On a serious note, I am sure a few hours will be sufficient.

[Lucas]

[quote]Why not go there and get loaded with the rest of the family? It will bring your own funeral a little closer.

Korean funerals are like Korean weddings - lots of k-pop and noise.

[Cave Dweller]

The limited amount I have seen, they are booze fests.

But then again so are weddings and childrens' 1st birthday parties. Soju and beer on the table.

[quote="Lucas"]

[nicwr2002]

I've been to one and I absolutely hated it. It was just like a wedding hall with other funerals going on nearby. So, you could hear the wailing of others behind the dividers that are in place to seperate the different funerals. You are served some food and you can drink, but at this kind of "funeral hall" why would you?

[jvalmer]

If you plan on marrying your girlfriend then go. Otherwise, skip it.

[cj1976]

I've only been to two funerals, and they were actually quite enjoyable. It was much like chuseok or any other Korean gathering. People were getting their drink on and eating a lot, and the go stop cards came out later. I went on to 2nd and third day, respectively, so people were already smashed. There were a couple of arguments, interspersed with short bouts of wailing, but it was generally quite a nice experience.

[Cave Dweller]

I don't think I could ever say a funeral was nice.

[drydell]

You lot are talking about the Wake not the funeral. The Wake goes on over 3 days and just involves respect paying , money giving, food and soju etc.

The funeral itself is an altogether different animal. I won't go into all the details but let's just say the day my Korean Father in Law was cremated and buried was the most insane day I've ever had to go through..

[atwood]

The food is not nearly as good as at weddings, and that's saying something. But you're not there to enjoy yourself and the food reflects that.

Wear a black suit if you can. Bring an envelope with money in it.

As someone posted above, this is just the wake. If the tomb is in the countryside, the funeral is a whole other day. It's a lot more interesting than the wake if the family is into keeping the old burial traditions.

[joeteacher]

[Qonny]

What happens that is so weird at the actual "funeral" funeral part?

My ex's father died when she was a kid. She said that after his funeral she stopped having dreams when she slept. Wouldn't go into detail, just said something about the washing of the body and the memory of certain other things stuck in her head as a wee kid.

[Lucas]

[joeteacher]

[Qonny]

So you actually see the body itself burn. Like in India??