Kyowon Funeral Home: Top Hygiene Rating from Ministry of Food & Drug Safety

by Grace Chen

Kyowon Yeum Funeral Homes Achieve Industry-Frist ‘Very Excellent’ Hygiene Rating Across All Locations

Kyowon Life’s funeral homes have set a new standard for cleanliness and safety, achieving the highest possible hygiene rating from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) across all seven branches nationwide. This unprecedented accomplishment underscores the company’s commitment to providing a dignified and secure habitat for grieving families.

National Recognition for Hygiene Standards

The MFDS hygiene grade designation system rigorously evaluates the sanitary conditions of food service establishments, assessing 64 items across three key areas through both screening and on-site inspections. Establishments are then categorized into one of three grades: ‘Very Excellent,’ ‘Excellent,’ or ‘Good.’ Kyowon Life’s ‘Kyowon Yeum Funeral Home’ network has earned the coveted ‘Very Excellent’ designation at every location, a feat unmatched in the industry.

Did you know? – South Korea’s MFDS hygiene ratings are a relatively new system, implemented to increase openness and consumer confidence in food service establishments. The ‘Very Excellent’ grade signifies exceptional standards.

A Two-Year Journey to Certification

The achievement is the culmination of a two-year initiative focused on elevating hygiene standards across the company’s national footprint. Certification was rolled out branch by branch, beginning with Gimhae in July 2023, followed by Hwaseong in May 2024, pohang in October 2024, Asan in March 2025, Gangwon in June 2025, Seoseoul in September 2025, and finaly Pyeongtaek in October 2025.

Why did Kyowon Life pursue this certification? Kyowon Life embarked on a two-year initiative to elevate hygiene standards across its seven ‘Kyowon Yeum Funeral Home’ locations nationwide, aiming to provide a more dignified and secure environment for grieving families.

Proactive Hygiene Management System

Kyowon Life attributes its success to a proactive and systematic approach to hygiene management. The company has implemented a dedicated food director system responsible for overseeing the quality and sanitation of all food and beverage (F&B) services within the funeral homes. Regular hygiene training is also conducted for all executives and staff nationwide.

Pro tip: – Implementing a dedicated food director system and regular staff training are key strategies for maintaining high hygiene standards in any food service operation, especially those with vulnerable clientele.

“We have continuously made efforts to provide a safe hygienic environment and the best funeral space to the bereaved family and mourners,” a senior official stated.”This is the first in the industry to obtain the highest rating in all branches. This is the result.”

This commitment has yielded a remarkable track record: since entering the funeral business in 2017, Kyowon Life has maintained a flawless record of zero violations of the Food Sanitation Act.

Who was involved? Kyowon Life, through its ‘Kyowon Yeum Funeral Home’ network, achieved the ‘Very Excellent’ hygiene rating. The ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) conducted the rigorous evaluations. All executives and staff participated in hygiene training.

Enhanced Bereavement Services

beyond hygiene, Kyowon Life is also focused on enhancing the overall experience for mourners.The company recently introduced a new ‘Yeum Retu

Reader question: – How might a focus on hygiene and food safety impact the overall perception of a funeral home and the comfort of grieving families? Share your thoughts.

What was achieved? Kyowon Life became the first funeral home network in South Korea to achieve the ‘Very Excellent’ hygiene rating from the MFDS across all seven of its locations. This demonstrates a commitment to providing a safe and dignified environment for mourners.

How did it end? the two-year initiative concluded in October 2025 with the Pyeongtaek branch receiving certification, completing the nationwide rollout. kyowon Life intends to continue investing in its facilities, services, and staff training to maintain its

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