It's Parents Day in South Korea -- a holiday where carnations are traditionally in high demand as a sign of love and gratitude. That tradition may be wilting however as the average price of freshly cut carnations has jumped 30 percent in the past month. Guan Xin has the story. 

Carnations mean love and gratitude in South Korea. It is a traditional gift given to parents on Parents' Day.  But the past month has saw the flowers' price soar. Government data shows that the average price of 20 stems of carnations grew 30 percent in April to 54 hundred South Korean won. That's roughly 32 rmb.

SOUTH KOREA CONSUMER "I was planning on buying carnations for my parents. But the price has gone so high recently, I am considering buying other presents instead."

Half of the home-grown carnations in South Korea are sold in April and May. But a particularly harsh winter severely impacted this year's production. Combined with declining farm sizes and rising costs, flower growers are barely scraping by.

FLOWER FARMER "We are hardly making any profit now with an increase in labor costs and other utility fees. Many farmers are leaving this business."

Adding salt to the wound. Foreign competitors are expanding their market shares fast. South Korea imported 3.6 million US dollars worth of carnations last year. That was up 40 percent from the year before. The top two producers are Colombia and China. The competitive prices they offer has pushed the South Korea government into quick action, such as breeding hybrid carnations. But analysts doubt that solution will make a difference, given the wide price difference between home-grown and imported flowers.

Guan Xin, CGTN.