South Korea’s floriculture industry is reeling after a major broadcaster replaced traditional fresh flower bouquets with plastic brick replicas during a highly-rated year-end awards ceremony, further intensifying economic anxieties for growers and florists. The incident occurred on December 29, when comedian Yoo Jae Suk accepted his record 21st Grand Prize at the 2025 MBC Entertainment Awards while holding a colorful bouquet constructed entirely of LEGO bricks, an apparent attempt by MBC to reflect eco-conscious trends.
This striking substitution immediately drew condemnation from the Korea Florists Association (KFA), which issued a statement arguing that prioritizing novelty plastic flowers over natural arrangements risks devaluing domestic agricultural efforts. The association fears this high-profile move will negatively influence public perception at a time when the sector faces severe contraction.
Dramatic Decline Poses Existential Threat
The backlash highlights the dire state of South Korean flower farming. Data indicates a nearly 50% reduction in the number of floriculture farms within the last two decades, dropping from 13,500 in 2001 to approximately 7,100 by 2023. The KFA emphasized that the livelihoods of over 20,000 flower shop owners and countless upstream growers depend directly on maintaining consumer demand for fresh products.
“The use of toy flower bouquets has inflicted yet another wound on flower farmers and florists who are already suffering due to economic slowdown and reduced consumer spending,” the KFA stated. They noted the irony of the situation given active government initiatives designed to promote everyday floral culture to support local industry development.
MBC, one of the nation’s three primary terrestrial broadcasters, inadvertently amplified the negative impact through the tremendous reach of its year-end show. With South Korea’s most recognized host publicly championing the plastic alternative, industry observers fear this single event could set an unwelcome precedent for other corporate and media organizations historically reliant on fresh floral arrangements.
Sustainability Claims Under Scrutiny
The broadcaster likely pursued the plastic alternative citing sustainability—LEGO bouquets are reusable and eliminate the waste associated with discarded fresh flowers. However, this environmental argument is proving complex. While LEGO has integrated some bio-polyethylene derived from sugarcane into its botanical elements, critics point out that these materials ultimately are not biodegradable and contribute to the global microplastic crisis.
The long lifespan that makes plastic bouquets appealing also guarantees their permanence in landfills. Conversely, fresh flowers offer genuine environmental benefits: they are biodegradable, support domestic agricultural ecosystems, and their cultivation naturally sequesters carbon dioxide. Local production also reinforces rural economies, aligning with broader national sustainability and food security goals.
Policy Backed by Government Undermined
The controversy places South Korean policymakers in a precarious position. The government has dedicated resources to supporting the domestic flower industry through initiatives like the “Flower Road,” designed to boost tourism and consumption. The floriculture sector, already battling increasing imports that dominate 30% of the market, worries that influential cultural moments, like the MBC awards, aggressively undermine these policy efforts.
Public opinion remains divided, with some social media users applauding the switch as a clever, collectible alternative that recipients might value longer than wilting flowers. Others expressed concern after local florists highlighted the vast network of small businesses financially impacted by such decisions.
The KFA has formally called upon major event organizers and broadcasters to reconsider the profound ripple effects of abandoning fresh floral arrangements. Industry stakeholders suggest potential compromises, such as utilizing locally sourced, seasonal flowers paired with robust composting programs, or presenting potted plants that offer both aesthetic appeal and living sustainability. For now, the image of the plastic flower bouquet remains a potent, divisive symbol: pitting corporate innovation against economic vulnerability within a key domestic agricultural sector.