South Korea: Anti-graft law hits flower sales hard
According to the data by the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corp., flower transactions came to 1.96 million bunches in the first 24 days of this month, down a whopping 22 percent from the same period a year earlier.
Market watchers said the local floral industry seems to be hit hard as people tend to refrain from sending flower gifts for special occasions out of concern that they might be breaching the law. In South Korea, more than 50 percent of flowers are purchased as gifts.
The law, which took effect in late September, bans public servants, educators and journalists from receiving free meals valued over 30,000 won (US$27), gifts worth more than 50,000 won, and congratulatory and condolence money of more than 100,000 won.
Read more at Yonhap News Agency