Dozens of flower shops in South Korea are experiencing an unusual trend. Despite many reporting no orders specifically for protest wreaths, certain shops have become central to a burgeoning movement. One shop has delivered over 1,000 wreaths since December, highlighting a unique form of political expression. This comes in response to President Yoon's imposition of military rule on December 3, followed by his impeachment approval 11 days later. The Constitutional Court now faces the task of deciding President Yoon's fate within 180 days.
The crisis has spurred innovative protest methods, drawing heavily from K-pop fandom culture. Young women, particularly those in their teens and twenties, have been pivotal in this shift. Thousands wielded K-pop light sticks during pro-impeachment rallies outside the National Assembly, demonstrating a blend of pop culture and political activism. Hong Gayeong noted the symbolic value of these items, stating:
"Even though these idol lightsticks are expensive… people are bringing their most precious possessions to express their opinions." – Hong Gayeong
The use of funeral wreaths as protest tools has gained considerable media attention. Local reports estimate several thousand wreaths have been delivered to government offices. This method's popularity has increased significantly, with four times more media coverage in 2024 compared to the previous year. Professor Kim Hern Sik from Jungwon University acknowledges the potential in these youthful protest methods but cautions against their limitations:
"K-pop fandom culture, especially centred around young women in their teens and 20s, is now being applied to political rallies." – Kim
"Most wreaths use cheap, non-environmentally friendly materials that neither help flower farmers nor the environment." – Kim
Flower shop owners like Yoon Miyoung have observed an unprecedented demand that surpasses local supply, commenting:
"We’ve sent out so many wreaths that Seoul is running out of flowers." – Yoon Miyoung
While these protests avoid physical violence, they have sparked controversy due to the nature of their messages. Choi Hang-sub highlights the evolution of wreath messages into a contentious form of expression:
"While wreaths avoid physical violence, the messages on funeral wreaths have evolved into a form of offline hate speech, similar to malicious online comments but now decorated with flowers." – Choi Hang-sub
Despite the contentious rhetoric, the protest movement has attracted international attention. Orders for wreaths have come from countries such as Japan, the United States, and the Netherlands. Notably, over one-third of customers are in their twenties and thirties, indicating a youthful demographic actively participating in this movement.
However, not all appreciate the environmental and social impacts of this trend. The materials used often do not benefit flower farmers or support sustainable practices. Moreover, while the messages vary in tone and intent, they occasionally carry extreme rhetoric targeted at specific individuals, predominantly President Yoon.
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