북한에서죽는다는것
북한주민들이처참한삶을이어가고있다는(leadawretchedexistence)건익히알려져있는터,그럼죽은뒤에는어떨까.살아서나죽어서나가련하기는(bepitiful)매한가지다.죽어저승가는(passawayintotheotherworld)길조차고되고애달프다(bearduousandheartrending).
장례식장이나장례를위해특별히마련된장소(funeralhallsoranyplacessetupspecificallyforfunerals)가없다.병원에서도장례장소를제공하지(providevenuesforfunerals)않는다.대부분집에서치러진다(beheldathome).김일성·김정일초상화가걸려있지않은벽쪽에상을차리고,영정사진하나(aportraitofthedeceased)거는것이전부다.향촉(香燭)이나죽은사람의위패(incenseandcandlesormortuarytablet)는사라진지오래다.상주는상복을입을(wearmourning)형편이못돼평상복차림에검은완장만찬다(wearablackarmbandinhisusualclothes).여자는머리에흰리본을단다.
과거엔3일장을지냈는데(holdathreedayfuneral),한겨울에도방에불을지피지않았다.방부처리를하지(embalmthebody)못한시신이부패하는것을막기(keepthecorpsefromdecomposing)위해서다.여름엔어쩔수없이시신부패냄새를맡으며장례를지냈다.
장의사(undertaker)는없다.시신을다뤄본경험이있는나이많은동네어른이그역할을한다.면허가있는것도,허가증이있는것도아니다(beneithercertifiednorlicensed).비석을세우던(erectatombstone)것은옛말이됐다.나무로대신한다.그렇다보니누군가가땔감용으로뽑아가버려(pluckitawayforfirewood)묘비없는무덤들이널려있다.
90년대초반부터는사망당일로매장을하는(burythebodytheverydayofdeath)가정이늘어났다.관을짜고장례비용을감당할형편이안돼(cannotaffordtomakeacoffinandpreparefuneralexpenses)그냥담요나이불에싸서(wrapthecorpseinablanketorbedclothes)내간다.새로지은쌀밥한그릇상을차려(setatablewithafreshlycookedbowlofrice)올리는게전부다.시신은트럭이나달구지로옮기는데,트럭은임대료와기름값,운전사비용까지내야해(payfortherental,gasandalsoforthedriver)유가족이1년이상더욱궁핍한생활을하게(liveinsevererdestitution)된다.
시신에수의입히는(shroudthedeadbody)건엄두도못낸다(behardlythinkable).생전옷중가장화사한것을고르다한겨울에여름옷입혀보내기도한다.그래서돌아가신분이꿈에나타나"너무춥다"하소연하는악몽에시달리기도(sufferfromnightmares)한다.남은생애그괴로운죄책감을안고(carrythepainfulfeelingsofguiltfortherestoftheirlives)살다가또그렇게간다.
☞http://www.nknews.org/2014/04/what-happens-when-you-die-in-north-korea-a-funeral-system-explained/
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