Social, Political, and Cultural Spread Trends
Non-Recyclable Waste Causes Serious Environmental Pollution
Recently, the act of sending condolence wreaths as a form of protest to National Assembly members' offices, celebrity agencies, and others has become a unique protest culture, leading waste collection and disposal companies to experience an unexpected surge in demand.
On the 20th, a representative from a waste removal company said, "To dispose of condolence wreaths, each wire-tied part must be dismantled one by one. Since it is difficult to handle hundreds of them, everyone calls in a company," adding, "Recently, we deployed six workers to process about 100 condolence wreaths delivered to an entertainment agency." Another company representative explained, "Condolence wreaths are sent not only to National Assembly members' constituency offices but also to universities, hospitals, community service centers, and private residences as protest messages," and added, "The disposal cost can be up to 70,000 won per wreath."
Condolence wreath protests are spreading across various fields such as society, politics, and culture. Last month, dozens of condolence wreaths sent by students opposing the transition to coeducation were lined up in front of Dongduk Women's University’s 100th Anniversary Hall. On the 25th of last month, hundreds of condolence wreaths asserting the innocence of Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, were delivered to the Seoul Central District Court, where the first trial for perjury instruction charges was held. After the failure of the impeachment vote, dozens of condolence wreaths have also been delivered to the offices of People Power Party members nationwide and the party headquarters in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul.
Park Jung-eum, team leader of resource circulation at the Seoul Environmental Federation, stated, "I understand and acknowledge that condolence wreaths have a certain image and symbolism and that they can clearly express protest in a non-face-to-face manner, which is why they are used as a form of protest." However, she pointed out, "Since hundreds are delivered at once and floral foam, plastic covers, and fixing iron wires cannot be recycled, a large amount of waste is generated, causing serious environmental pollution problems."
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