South Korean employees experience their own funerals

BBC news clip featuring part of the process (youtube screenshot)

South Korea companies are getting worldwide attention after their suicide prevention methods have been brought to light. 

The country is known to have the highest suicide rate in the world with many employees identifying stress as the source of problem. Thus many companies are making their employees experience their own funeral in order to help them appreciate life. BBC published a report about this method of suicide prevention that has been gaining popularity across the country.

“Employees write final farewell letters to their loved ones before entering their own wooden coffins, holding a photo of themselves decorated in black ribbons, where they are shut inside for ten minutes in the dark as they contemplate. After ten minutes has passed, the coffins are opened and employees literally see the light as they emerge from the box.

While employees are not likely to voice out their opinion as to whether they agree with this method, Cho Young Tae who spoke with BBC News said: “After the coffin experience, I realized I should try to live a new style of life. I’ve realised I’ve made lots of mistakes. I hope to be more passionate in all the work I do and spend more time with my family.”

“One president of a Korean business who sent his employees to experience this additionally has his employees do stretching every morning as well as go into a burst of laughter together.

A woman working at the business told BBC News, “At first, laughing together felt really awkward and I wondered what good it could do. But once you start laughing, you can’t help but look at the faces of your colleagues around you and you end up laughing together. I think it really does have a positive influence. There’s so little to laugh about in a normal office atmosphere, I think this kind of laughter helps.”