▲ A flower placed in tribute is seen at a funeral hall in this undated file photo. (Yonhap)

By Kang Yoon-seung

SEOUL, Aug. 25 (Yonhap) -- The fair trade watchdog on Tuesday introduced standard contract terms for funeral halls to better protect consumers' rights, including allowing bereaved families to bring in outside food and requiring operators to clearly disclose service fees.

The standard terms and conditions unveiled by the Fair Trade Commission (FTC) came in response to recurring consumer complaints over the use of funeral halls.

The standardized terms are not legally binding but serve as guidelines for businesses.

Under the guidelines, funeral hall operators must consult with bereaved families before disposing of condolence wreaths, as some operators had previously required consumers to sell them at low prices to designated companies.

The FTC said it had received complaints that some funeral hall operators threatened to impose disadvantages on bereaved families who sought to dispose of condolence wreaths on their own.

The new terms will also allow bereaved families to bring in uncooked outside food, such as fruit, drinks and alcoholic beverages, amid complaints that some funeral halls excessively overcharge them.

Cooked food may also be brought in if users reach an agreement with funeral hall operators in advance.

Funeral halls are also required to notify users of all costs before signing a contract to prevent unexpected charges at a time when bereaved families may have difficulty reviewing them carefully.

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