South Koreans Turn Funeral Wreaths and K-pop Light Sticks into Political Protest Tools

South Koreans are repurposing traditional funeral wreaths and K-pop light sticks as tools of political protest amid the impeachment trial of President Yoon Suk Yeol. Hundreds of wreaths have been dispatched to government buildings associated with the proceedings, deployed both in support of President Yoon and in opposition to his impeachment.

Media outlets have documented a surge in coverage of this phenomenon, reporting four times more attention in 2024 compared with 2023. The protest ritual has transcended generational boundaries: florists delivering these wreaths note that more than one-third of their customers are in their 20s and 30s, and orders now arrive from overseas locations including Japan, the United States, and the Netherlands. Some of the leading shops in this movement have delivered over 1,000 wreaths since December, turning their storefronts into hubs of offline political expression.

Observers describe the wreaths as a form of offline hate speech, likening them to malicious online comments but manifested through floral arrangements. At the same time, K-pop fandom culture has merged with political rallies: supporters are using light sticks—the illuminated wands popular at concerts—to signal solidarity, with some vendors offering free shipping and rental options for these devices.

“We’ve sent out so many wreaths that Seoul is running out of flowers,” said Yoon Miyoung of Dongsung Flower, a Seoul-based supplier at the center of the trend. Choi Hang-sub, a sociology professor at Kookmin University, added, “Even though the form remains the same, the types of flowers or the messages differ.”

The crisis has its roots in President Yoon’s decision to impose military rule on December 3, when he deployed troops to the National Assembly. He was impeached 11 days later, and faces potential rebellion charges. The Constitutional Court now has 180 days to decide whether to remove Yoon from office permanently or to reinstate him.

This innovative use of mourning symbols in modern political protest underscores the evolving intersection of culture and politics in South Korea.