Jinju, Namhae, Yangsan Park Cemetery… Korea Flower Fund Association, support of 2,000 bunches of fresh flowers

Gyeongsangnam-do is holding a campaign to use fresh flowers instead of plastic artificial flowers during this year's Chuseok holiday.

Provincial and city government officials and park and cemetery officials will hand out chrysanthemums and other fresh flowers to grave visitors on a first-come, first-served basis, starting at Naedong Park Cemetery in Jinju City on the 24th, the first day of the Chuseok holiday, at Memorial Nuri Public Cemetery and Samjeonggae Cemetery in Namhae-gun on the 25th, and at Seokgye Park Cemetery in Yangsan City on the 24th to 27th.

The Korea Florist Fund Association provides 2,000 bunches of fresh flowers for four days to support the spread of an eco-friendly memorial culture.

Gyeongnam Province, where the flower industry is developed, centered around Gimhae City, has been running a campaign to use fresh flowers instead of plastic artificial flowers at graves during the Chuseok and Lunar New Year holidays since 2022.

As a result of the steady campaign, the number of Gyeongnam parks and cemeteries that ban the introduction of plastic artificial flowers increased from 12 in 2023 to 25 this year.

Most plastic artificial flowers come from overseas, such as China.

The materials are synthetic fiber, plastic, and iron core, so it is difficult to recycle and must be incinerated, which generates fine dust.

The province emphasized that not using plastic artificial flowers will kill two birds with one stone by resolving environmental problems by reducing plastic while reviving the domestic flower industry.