It’s that time of year to enjoy flowers in parks and gardens. However, beware not to pick any. You might find yourself on the wrong side of the law. It’s illegal to pick cultivated flowers in public parks, gardens and even ones growing on land maintained by community centers.
Mike Laidman reports.

Colourful spring flowers grow on small gardens along roads and parks maintained by communities.
But there’s something not so pretty about this situation; some communities are having their flowers stolen.


Those residents who have planted and cared for the flowers feel hurt.

Whole plants meant for landscaping have been dug up and stolen.
Here, a car is parked next to a flower bed. Looking closely, there are uprooted plants nearby. The car is followed,
and the same yellow flowers from the flower bed are found in the trunk.
When asked about the flowers, the owner of the car lies.


We come back to the flower bed.

The flower bed has been destroyed.
The earth has been dug up and the remaining roots have dried in the sun.
With continued, persistent questioning, the thieves promise to restore the garden.

Those caught stealing flowers or other plants can be punished by law.


Rectifying the situation is not a difficult job. It takes only maturity and a sense of citizenship to ensure that anyone is able to enjoy Jeju’s spring flowers.

Mike Laidman, KCTV