Congratulatory Flower Pots Occupying the Lobby on the 1st Floor of the Assembly Hall
Key Tasks of Aides and Secretaries Are 'Bringing Flower Pots'
"We Understand the Sentiment, but Wish It Were Conveyed More Simply"
"Hey! It's a botanical garden, a botanical garden."
On the 5th, people passing by the first floor of the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul, could not help but sigh at the spectacular scene before their eyes. The Members' Office Building had literally turned into a lush forest. On both sides of the entrance where the access cards are scanned, there were pots full of colorful flowers and vigorously spreading orchids. The path to the restroom at the end of the building and the writing desks where visitors to the Members' Office Building fill out visit applications were barely visible. People smiled as they touched the petals of the flowers but quickly passed by after seeing the notice indicating the owner of the pots. "Please deliver the pots to each member's office."
On the 5th, flower pots celebrating the election and inauguration of the 22nd National Assembly members filled the lobby on the 1st floor of the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Gong Byung-sun mydillon@
Since the term of the 22nd National Assembly members began on the 30th of last month, congratulatory flower pots have been flooding into the Members' Office Building used as offices by the members. Roughly several hundred pots are waiting for their owners in the first-floor lobby of the Members' Office Building because, due to security issues, they cannot be delivered directly to the members' offices. National Assembly staff lined up the flower pots that arrived in front of the members' offices by floor from the 3rd to the 10th on the first-floor lobby to organize them. Still, they could not handle all of them, and some pots were placed outside the building beyond the lobby.
Each member's office reportedly receives over 100 congratulatory flower pots. Even if only 100 pots per member are considered, 30,000 pots would arrive at the Members' Office Building. As a result, after the opening of the Assembly, one of the main tasks of the members' aides and secretaries is to go down to the first floor to pick up the flower pots. On the first floor of the Members' Office Building, it is not uncommon to see aides or secretaries pulling green carts looking for flower pots labeled with the names of the members. Bringing the pots into the members' offices is also problematic. Placing about 10 pots on desks or cabinets fills up all the empty space in the office. Watering the orchids, which have become a burden, and ensuring they get sunlight to prevent them from dying has become an additional task for aides or secretaries. Some members reportedly even complained that they wished reporters could help carry the pots, not just aides or secretaries.
On the 5th, congratulatory flower pots celebrating the election and inauguration of the 22nd National Assembly members were arranged by floor in the lobby on the 1st floor of the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul. / Photo by Gong Byung-sun mydillon@
Where do all these congratulatory flower pots come from? Who sent them? Ribbons from government agencies, large corporations, securities firms, local government heads, regional city and provincial council members, various local associations, university alumni associations, university professors, and religious organizations were seen. There were even congratulatory flower pots whose senders could not be identified.
"This time, it's particularly excessive." A secretary to a four-term member pointed out that congratulatory flower pots have never been as noticeable as this year. Not only have more pots arrived than ever before, but many are also much larger than an adult's height. It seems that sending large and flashy flower pots inevitably draws attention to the sender.
So, are these flower pots related to bribery? According to the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act, gifts including wreaths and agricultural and marine products provided for smooth job performance, socializing, ceremonial purposes, or condolences can be given up to 100,000 KRW. Giving and receiving flower pots under 100,000 KRW does not violate the law regarding bribery. However, there were obviously high-priced flower pots. One member's office received a Yeoincho (a type of orchid) that was as tall as the ceiling. Large congratulatory Yeoincho over 150 cm are sold for prices ranging from about 100,000 KRW to 350,000 KRW. A B aide to a first-term member said, "Opinions are divided even within the National Assembly," adding, "Some say it's strange for the Assembly to be covered with congratulatory flower pots, while others say it's not illegal on a larger scale, so it shouldn't be a problem." However, they pointed out that "the practice of government agencies sending flower pots as if in a competition is a bad custom."
On the 5th, a poster requesting direct delivery of congratulatory flower pots for the election and inauguration of the 22nd National Assembly members to their offices was posted in the lobby on the first floor of the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Gong Byung-sun mydillon@
Member C, a first-term lawmaker, asked people around them not to send flowers upon their election in April. Despite this, 100 flower pots were delivered to their office, but they laughed and said, "I did well." They implied that if they had not made such a request, an unmanageable number of flower pots would have arrived at their office. Member C understands the desire to congratulate but emphasized that there should be simpler ways to express congratulations. "When you see places that send flower pots to all 300 members of the National Assembly, you wonder if it really has to be that way. We need to change the culture." When asked how they would like to receive congratulations, after some thought, Member C answered, "I like letters."
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