South Korea’s floriculture sector is reeling following a high-profile controversy stemming from the 2025 MBC Entertainment Awards, where the broadcaster replaced traditional floral arrangements with bouquets constructed entirely from LEGO bricks. The decision, aimed at promoting sustainability, has instead ignited a fierce backlash from the Korea Florists Association, which claims the widely publicized shift delivers a crippling blow to an already vulnerable industry dependent on public consumption.
The controversy began December 29 when beloved comedian Yoo Jae Suk accepted his record 21st Grand Prize clutching a colorful toy bouquet, instantly amplifying the change across one of the nation’s most-watched television events. The Association formally condemned the move on January 10, arguing that substituting real flowers with plastic alternatives signals to the public that fresh flowers are disposable or inefficient—a perception the struggling sector can ill afford.
Floriculture Faces Economic Crisis
The statistics reflect a sobering reality for South Korea’s flower growers. Data shows the number of floriculture farms dropped nearly 50 percent between 2001 and 2023, shrinking from 13,500 to approximately 7,100 operations. The Association emphasized the economic fragility, noting that the livelihoods of over 20,000 small flower shop owners and countless farmers rely on consumer appreciation for fresh floral culture.
“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 organization stated, noting that the action undermines explicit government efforts to foster everyday flower consumption and support the sector’s development.
The highly visible incident, featuring the nation’s most influential TV host, sets a worrying precedent. Industry leaders fear that if a major network like MBC chooses plastic over perishable goods for its premier event, other organizations may soon follow, further eroding a crucial revenue stream for growers who have also contended with a 46 percent reduction in growers between 2000 and 2020.
The Sustainability Paradox
While MBC likely intended the shift to be an environmentally conscious choice—as plastic flowers do not wilt and are reusable—the sustainability argument is complex. LEGO utilizes plant-based plastics derived from Brazilian sugarcane for certain botanical elements, yet critics point out these materials are not biodegradable and contribute to microplastic pollution. The inherent durability of the plastic bricks, designed to last 1,500 years, paradoxically means they contribute to long-term plastic accumulation.
In contrast, fresh flowers offer genuine environmental benefits, including biodegradability and support for agricultural ecosystems and carbon absorption. Domestic flower production also bolsters rural economies, aligning more closely with long-term government sustainability initiatives.
Government Policy Undermined
The conflict places policymakers in a difficult position. The South Korean government has actively promoted the floriculture sector through initiatives like the “Flower Road,” designed to encourage the creation of public flower gardens and boost tourism. These efforts are intended to help local producers compete against increasingly dominant floral imports, which now account for roughly 30 percent of nationwide flower consumption.
The industry worries that influential cultural benchmarks, such as major television awards shows, can inadvertently undermine these supportive policy efforts. The Association has called upon broadcasters and event organizers to reverse the decision, urging them to consider the profound ripple effects such choices have on the thousands of individuals across the agricultural supply chain.
As the debate continues, floriculture representatives suggest potential compromises, such as utilizing locally grown, seasonal flowers with robust composting programs, or selecting potted plants that recipients can take home alive, thus reconciling the desire for freshness with the goal of sustainability. For now, the LEGO bouquet remains a potent symbol of the tension between cultural innovation, environmental intent, and collective economic impact.