How to Send Funeral Flowers to Korea from the US
By Flower Delivery in Korea · Updated
Short answer: send a standing condolence wreath (근조화환) to the funeral hall. Copy the hall, room number and the deceased's name from the family's obituary notice (부고), choose the earliest delivery date, and pick the ribbon wording.
Our condolence wreaths cost $85–$160 in US dollars, including delivery and both printed ribbons. You pay by PayPal or card.
1. What to send
At a Korean funeral, flowers are sent to the funeral hall (장례식장), not to the family's home. Most funerals are held at the funeral hall attached to a hospital. The family receives mourners there for about three days.
- Standing condolence wreath (근조화환, 3단) — the standard choice. It is a tall stand of white chrysanthemums with two ribbons, placed at the entrance of the memorial room (빈소).
- Condolence basket (근조 바구니) — smaller. It suits a close friend, or a hall with little space.
- Avoid red or pink bouquets and anything festive. White and yellow are the colours of mourning.
2. The details you need (all in the 부고)
When someone dies in Korea, the family sends an obituary notice called a bugo (부고) by text or KakaoTalk. It has everything the florist needs.
| Order field | Look for this in the 부고 | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Delivery address | 빈소 or 장례식장 (hall name and address) | Samsung Medical Center Funeral Hall, Gangnam-gu, Seoul |
| Address detail | 호실 (room number) | Room 5 (5호실) |
| Recipient name | 고인 (the deceased) or 상주 (chief mourner) | Late Kim Young-soo / Kim Min-jun (chief mourner) |
| Recipient phone | 상주 contact, or the funeral hall's number | If you have none, make the hall and room exact |
| Delivery date | 발인 (procession date and time) | Must arrive before the 발인 morning |
Write the address in English or Korean. Pasting the Korean text from the 부고 is the most reliable.
3. Timing: Korea time and cut-offs
Korea is on Korea Standard Time (UTC+9) all year, with no daylight saving time. Dates at checkout are Korea dates.
| Your time zone | Korea is ahead by | Example |
|---|---|---|
| US Eastern | 13 hours (EDT) / 14 hours (EST) | 8 PM Monday in New York (EDT) is 9 AM Tuesday in Seoul |
| US Central | 14 hours (CDT) / 15 hours (CST) | 7 PM Monday in Chicago (CDT) is 9 AM Tuesday in Seoul |
| US Pacific | 16 hours (PDT) / 17 hours (PST) | 5 PM Monday in Los Angeles (PDT) is 9 AM Tuesday in Seoul |
- Earliest date: online orders can be scheduled from the next day in Korea. An order placed Monday evening in the US is already Tuesday in Korea, so the earliest date is Wednesday.
- Preparation: wreaths need 4–5 hours after the order is confirmed. Condolence wreaths are delivered until 10 PM.
- The funeral window: Korean funerals usually last three days. The procession (발인) leaves early on the third morning, and the room is cleared after that. Order as soon as you hear the news.
If you hear the news late: check the 발인 date in the 부고. If the next available delivery date is the 발인 day itself, the wreath may arrive after the family has left. Consider a basket or card to the family's home instead.
4. The ribbon wording
A condolence wreath carries two ribbons. One has a short condolence phrase and the other has your name. The most common phrase is 삼가 고인의 명복을 빕니다 ("May the deceased rest in peace").
For the sender, write your name as the family knows it. For example, "John Smith" or "ABC Inc. staff". You can write in English or Korean. See all phrases in our Korean condolence ribbon messages guide.
5. What it costs
Our condolence wreaths currently cost $85–$160. The price includes delivery anywhere in South Korea and both printed ribbons. Remote islands or mountain areas can add $5–$30. Here are the most affordable ones today:
For what changes the price, see how much a funeral wreath costs in Korea.
6. Paying from the US
- Prices and payment are in US dollars.
- Pay with PayPal or any major credit or debit card through PayPal. You do not need a PayPal account.
- You receive an order confirmation by email. You can check the order at My Orders.
Frequently asked questions
What is the usual funeral flower to send in Korea?
A standing condolence wreath (근조화환), usually three tiers of white chrysanthemums with two printed ribbons: one with a condolence phrase and one with the sender's name. It is placed at the entrance of the memorial room (빈소) at the funeral hall.
How fast can a funeral wreath be delivered in Korea?
Online orders can be scheduled from the next day, Korea time, and wreaths need 4–5 hours after the order is confirmed. Condolence wreaths are delivered until 10 PM. Korean funerals usually last three days with the procession (발인) on the third morning, so order on the day you hear the news.
How much does it cost to send a funeral wreath to Korea from the US?
Our condolence wreaths currently cost $85–$160 in US dollars, including delivery and both ribbons. Remote islands or mountain areas can add $5–$30.
What information do I need to send a wreath to a Korean funeral hall?
The funeral hall name and address, the memorial room number (빈소 호실), the name of the deceased and, ideally, the chief mourner (상주). All of this is in the obituary notice (부고) the family sends by text or KakaoTalk.
Can I pay with a US credit card?
Yes. Checkout is in US dollars through PayPal, which accepts major credit and debit cards without a PayPal account.
Send a condolence wreath to Korea
Delivered to funeral halls anywhere in South Korea, from $85, ribbons included.
View condolence wreaths