In an era where the conversation around mortality is often sidelined by the fast pace of modern urban life, a significant movement is emerging in Seoul to bring death back into the public discourse. On April 10, 2026, the Kakdang Welfare Foundation hosted a landmark seminar to mark the 35th anniversary of the “Society for Thinking about Life and Death,” focusing on the critical necessity of death education within religious and social frameworks.
The seminar, titled “Death Education in the Church: Its Necessity and Pastoral Tasks,” addressed the growing psychological and social isolation that occurs when individuals and families are unable to prepare for loss and the end of life. By centering the discussion on the role of the church, organizers aimed to bridge the gap between spiritual faith and the practical, emotional preparation required for a “well-dying” process.
Led by Chairman Ra Je-gun, the event highlighted how the avoidance of death-related discussions can lead to a faith centered exclusively on the present world, thereby weakening traditional messages of salvation and eternal life. This initiative seeks to transform the perception of death from a taboo subject into a catalyst for living a more meaningful and beautiful life.
Three Decades of Pioneering Death Education in Korea
The institutional effort to normalize death education in South Korea has been anchored by the Kakdang Welfare Foundation. Established in 1986, the foundation was founded under the leadership of Honorary Chairperson Kim Ok-ra with a mission centered on the cultivation of volunteers, hospice care, and comprehensive death education.
Five years after the foundation’s inception, the “Society for Thinking about Life and Death” was established in 1991. This society grew from a gathering of individuals who had experienced the profound pain of losing loved ones. Operating under the philosophy that “education on death is education for a beautiful life,” the organization has spent over three decades expanding the discourse on understanding death and healing grief through academic lectures, seminars, and joint memorial services.
A significant milestone in this journey occurred in 2002, when the organization launched South Korea’s first training program for death preparation education instructors. This professionalization of death education has allowed the foundation to scale its impact, moving from compact support groups to a structured academic and practical framework for preparing the public for the inevitable end of life.
The Crisis of Silence in a Super-Aging Society
The April 10 seminar brought together theologians and academics to analyze why modern society—and specifically the church—has become reluctant to discuss death. Professors Jo Seong-don from the Practical Theological Graduate University and Kang Jin-gu from Kosin University provided key presentations on the sociological and theological implications of this silence.
The speakers argued that the tendency to ignore death leads to a dangerous form of isolation. When individuals and families are unprepared for the process of dying, the resulting trauma and lack of closure can exacerbate the loneliness of the elderly and the grief of the bereaved. In the context of South Korea’s transition into a super-aging society, this lack of preparation is no longer just a personal issue but a systemic social challenge.
From a theological perspective, the seminar noted that a faith that does not reflect on death tends to lean toward “this-worldliness.” By avoiding the reality of mortality, the church risks diminishing its core messages regarding salvation and the afterlife, effectively stripping the faith of its depth and its ability to provide genuine comfort during the final stages of life.
Integrating ‘Well-Dying’ into Pastoral Care
A central theme of the event was the integration of “well-dying” education—the practice of preparing for a dignified death—into the daily operations of the church. Oh Hye-ryun, President of the Kakdang Welfare Foundation, delivered a presentation on “Christian Well-Dying Education” conducted through the partnership between the foundation and academic institutions.
The discussion emphasized that the church is uniquely positioned to provide this education because it possesses the community infrastructure and the spiritual authority to discuss existence and transcendence. The goal is to move beyond simple hospice care to a proactive educational model where congregants are encouraged to reflect on their lives, settle their affairs, and find peace with their mortality long before a medical crisis occurs.
Chairman Ra Je-gun expressed that the seminar served as a pivotal moment to share and expand the necessity of death education within the church. By fostering an environment where death is discussed openly, the foundation hopes to help individuals navigate the transition from life to death with dignity and spiritual readiness.
Key Organizational Timeline
| Year | Milestone | Focus Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Establishment of Kakdang Welfare Foundation | Volunteer training and hospice care |
| 1991 | Founding of the Society for Thinking about Life and Death | Grief healing and death discourse |
| 2002 | Launch of Instructor Training Program | Professionalizing death preparation education |
| 2026 | 35th Anniversary Seminar | Integrating death education into church ministry |
The event also celebrated the publication of Introduction to Death Education, a text intended to provide a theoretical and practical basis for those leading these conversations. The contributors to the book, including Professors Jo Seong-don, Cha Yu-rim, and Park Chung-gu, were recognized for their efforts in codifying the knowledge required to guide others through the end-of-life process.
As the conversation on well-dying continues to evolve, the Kakdang Welfare Foundation remains committed to expanding these educational frameworks to ensure that no individual faces the end of life in isolation or without the spiritual and emotional tools necessary for a peaceful transition.
The foundation continues to operate its programs and resources for those seeking to understand the intersection of faith and mortality. For further information on their initiatives, the public can visit the official Kakdang Welfare Foundation website.
World Today Journal encourages readers to share their perspectives on the role of community and faith in death preparation in the comments section below.