VOA慢速英语--韩国人参加“活葬礼”改善生活

Thousands of South Koreans have taken part in "living funeral" services in an effort to help improve their lives.

The experience is designed to simulate¹ death for individuals seeking to increase their knowledge about their current lives.

More than 25,000 people have completed mass "living funerals" at the Hyowon Healing Center in Seoul since it opened in 2012.

"Once you become conscious of death, and experience it, you undertake a new approach to life," said 75-year-old Cho Jae-hee. Cho took part in a living funeral that was part of a "dying well" program offered by her local community center.

The event was attended by many people from the area, both young and old. During the program, people are asked to lie down in a closed coffin² for about 10 minutes. They can also write a will and take funeral pictures.

University student Choi Jin-kyu also took part in a "dying well" event. He told Reuters news agency the experience helped him realize that, too often, he considers others as competitors.

"When I was in the coffin, I wondered what use that is," the 28-year-old said. Choi added that he now plans to start his own business after finishing school instead of trying to enter the highly-competitive job market.

The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, OECD, has rated South Korea 33 out of 40 countries on its Better Life Index. The index considers many measures of personal well-being³, including housing, income, employment and health.

Many younger South Koreans have high hopes for education and employment. But such hopes can be ruined because of economic conditions.

Professor Yu Eun-sil is a doctor at Seoul's Asan Medical Center who has written a book about death. "It is important to learn and prepare for death even at a young age," she told Reuters.

In 2016, the World Health Organization reported South Korea's suicide⁴ rate was 20.2 per 100,000 people. That is nearly double the worldwide average of 10.53.

Hyowon Healing Center began offering living funerals to help people see the value in their current lives. The experience can also help people seeking forgiveness and better relationships with family and friends, said Jeong Yong-mun, the head of the center.

Jeong said he is pleased when people are able to reconcile⁵ at a family member's funeral. But he is saddened that the connection could not happen sooner.

"We don't have forever," he said. "That's why I think this experience is so important - we can apologize and reconcile sooner and live the rest of our lives happily."

Words in This Story

simulate – v. create conditions or processes similar to something that exists

conscious – adj. know that something is present or happening

undertake – v. begin work on something

coffin – n. a box in which a dead body is buried

will – n. a document that gives instructions about what should happen to a person's money and belongings⁶ after they die

reconcile – v. restore friendly relations with others

1 simulate   

vt.模仿，模拟，假装，冒充

参考例句：

• The wood had been painted to simulate stone.木头上刷了漆以看起来像块石头。
• A sheet of metal was shaken to simulate the noise of thunder.猛力抖动金属片以模仿雷声。

2 coffin   

n.棺材，灵柩

参考例句：

• When one's coffin is covered,all discussion about him can be settled.盖棺论定。
• The coffin was placed in the grave.那口棺材已安放到坟墓里去了。

3 well-being   

n.安康，安乐，幸福

参考例句：

• He always has the well-being of the masses at heart.他总是把群众的疾苦挂在心上。
• My concern for their well-being was misunderstood as interference.我关心他们的幸福，却被误解为多管闲事。

4 suicide   

n.自杀，自毁，自杀性行为

参考例句：

• The number of suicide has increased.自杀案件的数量增加了。
• The death was adjudged a suicide by sleeping pills.该死亡事件被判定为服用安眠药自杀。

5 reconcile   

vt.使协调，使和解，使顺从（甘心）（于）

参考例句：

• Must they reconcile themselves to their fate?难道他们甘心忍受这种命运吗？
• He found it hard to reconcile himself to the disagreeable state.他发现难以忍受这种不愉快的状况。

6 belongings   

n.私人物品，私人财物

参考例句：

• I put a few personal belongings in a bag.我把几件私人物品装进包中。
• Your personal belongings are not dutiable.个人物品不用纳税。