A South Korean company has begun offering a service to deliver e-mails to loved ones following the sender's death.
'Koreans find it very awkward talking about death. For example, many Koreans take out life insurance without telling their families. This is a way for them to talk to their families after their death and perhaps tell them about private financial arrangements they might have made,' said Mr Kim.
The idea of leaving a message to be delivered after death is a simple one, but according to Mr Kim, the real value of the service comes from its 'life checking'. The company sends an e-mail twice a month to subscribers requesting a response within 30 days. If the client fails to respond, Goodbyemail will then check with a pre-selected 'adviser' about the status of the client.
If he or she is confirmed as having passed away, Goodbyemail will then deliver the stored messages as directed, to friends and family.
The service is offered in Korean and English. There are plans to roll out a Chinese-language version.
