In a unique shift, North Koreans are embracing home-based ancestral rites over traditional hillside cemetery visits due to a government order to remove graves. Families now find convenience and freedom from societal judgment in performing ancestral rites at home. Initially, many were reluctant to comply, fearing misfortune or the financial burden of cremation. However, the ease of home-based ceremonies has won them over, with the wealthy preparing elaborate offerings and the less fortunate making do with what they have. One man, relieved from the burden of traveling miles to his father’s distant grave, now celebrates the newfound simplicity of honoring his ancestors at home. As this sentiment spreads, even the most resistant individuals are starting to conform. The Daily NK’s exclusive sources in North Korea shed light on this cultural transformation, depicting a society finding solace and joy in adapting cherished traditions to fit the evolving landscape.
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