"Carnation Boom Fades Ahead of Teachers' Day as Flower Prices Soar and Demand Wilts"

Disappointing Sales Even During Parents' Day Peak Season

Carnation Auction Prices Jump 20-30% Year-on-Year

Gift-Giving Culture at Schools Shrinks Under Anti-Graft Law

As both flower prices and packaging material costs rise during the recession, the "Carnation Boom," which was once considered the peak season for the floral industry in May, is disappearing. Even on Parents' Day, carnation sales fell short of expectations, and with Teachers' Day approaching on May 15, many florists are reducing their stock compared to previous years. Carnations have long served as a symbol of gratitude on Parents' Day and Teachers' Day.

On May 12, Yonhap News reported that, recently, shrinking consumer sentiment, increased price burdens, and changes in gift-giving culture have all contributed to a decline in demand for fresh carnations, and the traditional meaning behind the flower is also fading.

As flower and packaging material prices rise simultaneously amid the recession, the 'Carnation Boom,' once considered the peak season for the floral industry in May, is disappearing. Photo by Jinhyung Kang

According to the Encyclopedia of Korean Folk Culture, the symbolic meaning of carnations originated in the United States in 1907, when Anna Jarvis distributed white carnations to churchgoers at her mother's second memorial service. In countries like China and Japan, there is also a custom of giving carnations to parents on Mother's Day or Father's Day. While red carnations are given to living mothers and white carnations to those who have passed away, in Korea, the word "carnation" generally brings to mind the color red. In the 1980s and 1990s, and even into the 2000s, local flower shops would sell out of carnations on the morning of Teachers' Day, as many students brought carnations to school for their teachers. As a result, carnations were in highest demand during May, but that is now a thing of the past.

Wholesale Prices Rise and Packaging Costs Add Pressure... Upward Pressure on Retail Prices

According to the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT)'s floral distribution information, the average auction price for carnations at the Yangjae Flower Market on May 6 and May 8 jumped significantly compared to a year ago. The "Mixed Special Grade 2 Large" variety rose from 8,885 won last year to 11,597 won this year, an increase of about 30.5%. The "Mixed Spray" variety also increased by approximately 22.7%, from 7,540 won to 9,256 won.

Florists are making carnation baskets at Yangjae Flower Complex in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang

In addition to rising flower prices, the costs of packaging materials needed to make bouquets and flower baskets—such as rubber caps, tissue paper, waterproof wrapping, plastic shopping bags, and ribbons—are also becoming a burden. To lower the consumer price of a single carnation or a small bouquet, flower shops would have to simplify the arrangement, but this makes it difficult for them to secure a profit margin.

In practice, most flower shops in Seoul are focusing on selling products made with just one or two carnations or small bouquets. Sales of decorated flower baskets and medium- to large-sized bouquets have dropped as consumers feel the pressure of higher prices. The industry also reports a growing trend among consumers to choose alternatives such as artificial or soap carnations, which are relatively cheaper and easier to store than fresh flowers. As spending power weakens, the trend toward practicality and cost-effectiveness in consumption is intensifying, leading to the analysis that flowers are increasingly viewed as an additional rather than a primary gift.

Weaker Demand for Teachers' Day... Changes in Gift-Giving Culture After the Anti-Graft Law

Demand for carnations ahead of Teachers' Day is expected to be even weaker than on Parents' Day. In the past, it was common for students to pin carnations on their teachers, but since the introduction of the Anti-Graft Law in 2016, the culture of giving flowers or gifts to teachers at school has diminished significantly, as individuals are restricted from doing so.

View of Namdaemun Flower Market in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jin-Hyung Kang

Additionally, some schools grant discretionary holidays around Teachers' Day or restrict the exchange of gifts between students and teachers in advance through official notices. While handmade paper carnations by students are sometimes allowed, purchased fresh or artificial carnations are increasingly seen as burdensome gifts. As a result, flower shops near schools are dramatically reducing their carnation stock for Teachers' Day. Since sales were sluggish even on Parents' Day, many shops are choosing to prepare only small quantities or to make carnation products only upon receiving orders, rather than displaying a wide variety of items.

Experts believe that the decline in flower consumption is due to the combined effects of economic recession, rising prices, and changing consumer trends. In particular, while carnations have strong symbolic value as a token of gratitude, they are not practical goods, so consumers are increasingly opting for gifts with more tangible benefits, such as cash or daily necessities. Furthermore, concerns are growing within the floral industry that May is no longer the lucrative month it once was. Although production, distribution, and packaging costs are rising, consumers are highly sensitive to price increases, creating a challenging situation for both flower shops and growers.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.