6 crematorium workers held over South Korea gold teeth theft - Crematorium.eu News about crematoria in Europe - www.crematorium.eu informs about crematoria in Europe- Krematorium.eu- crematorio.eu, find a crematorium

Six crematorium workers in South Korea have been arrested for stealing and selling melted gold teeth from the incinerated remains of the deceased, police said on Thursday.

One suspect, identified only by his surname Lee, made about 20 million won (S$22,800) from selling melted gold he collected from incinerators at the Seoul crematorium where he worked as a stoker, said the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency.

Five other stokers from four crematoriums in provincial cities have also been arrested for stealing gold over the year to August, from which they earned a combined 14 million won, police said in a statement.

Increasing numbers of South Koreans opt for cremation over burial, with 67.5 per cent of residents choosing cremation in 2010, according to government data.