Photo: IC

Since the beginning of this year, multiple places across China have reported corruption cases in the funeral service industry. Experts said corruption in the sector can leave a negative influence on social morality and funeral services, as a public service sector, should not be profit-oriented.

Data shows that at least 18 practitioners in the funeral service sector from across the country including East China’s Anhui, Jiangxi and Jiangsu provinces, Southwest China’s Sichuan and Yunnan provinces, and Northeast China’s Jilin and Liaoning provinces, have been caught in corruption investigation since the beginning of this year, as regions across China kicked off a campaign to root out misconduct and corruption in the funeral and burial sector.

Experts noted Monday that corruption in the funeral industry is not just about money but represents a negative impact on social morals, trust, and respect, as well as a significant harm to traditional culture.

Among these personnel in question, 12 were directors, deputy directors or former heads of the local funeral homes, and another six were incumbent officials or former officials from the local funeral management bureaus in the counties, according to a report from Chinese Newsweek on Sunday.

Several people among the personnel investigated have been engaged in the funeral industry for a long period of time. For example, Yang Tao, general manager from Kangrong Industrial Co in Quxian county in Dazhou city, Sichuan, who was placed under investigation for corruption this May, has been working in the sector for over 30 years.

So far, Dazhou authorities have prosecuted 89 suspects, according to chinanews.com.

Since April, multiple places including Anhui, Liaoning and Jilin have launched campaigns against misconduct in the funeral service sectors targeting problems such as charging illegal fees, illegal construction and operation of cemeteries and corruption among personnel.

Zhu Lijia, a professor of public management at the Chinese Academy of Governance, told the Global Times on Monday that the misconduct of these “flies,” or corrupt low-ranking officials, not only directly affects people’s lives but also undermines Chinese tradition.

Chinese people pay great respect to the deceased, therefore the corruption in the funeral industry harms public interests and the social custom, Zhu said.

According to Zhu, the phenomenon of excessive and arbitrary charges, from the morgue all the way to the cemetery, has damaged traditional Chinese culture. He noted that as a public service industry, the funeral service sector should not be profit-oriented.