[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Gwi-yeol] The "Andong Mugunghwa Preservation Society," hosted by the society and sponsored by Andong City, will hold the "Andong Mugunghwa Festival" for four days from July 28 to 31 at the exhibition hall of the Andong Folk Museum annex on Minsokchon-gil, Andong City.
Under the theme "The Symbol of the Spirit of Independence, the Andong Mugunghwa Flower Has Bloomed!" the festival reflects on the historical significance of Andong Mugunghwa, the national flower representing the region.
The "Andong Mugunghwa Festival" will be held from July 28 to 31 at the annex exhibition hall of the Andong Folk Museum.
Andong Mugunghwa is a successor tree of the Mugunghwa planted and nurtured over 100 years ago by Andong’s pioneers and Confucian scholars at Yean Hyanggyo, carrying the sorrow of losing the nation and the hope for independence.
The Andong Mugunghwa Preservation Society, founded on March 1, 2019, the 100th anniversary of the March 1st Movement, is leading preservation and dissemination efforts.
This Andong Mugunghwa Festival is the second exhibition aimed at further promoting the beauty and historical value of the Andong Mugunghwa flower.
This year’s festival focuses on potted flowers (bonhwa) and bonsai (bonsai), showcasing local artists’ works featuring Andong Mugunghwa, including ceramics, traditional Korean paper (hanji), pressed flowers, natural dyeing, hanbok, and daily accessories.
Works held by the Cheollipo Arboretum Mugunghwa Variety Preservation Center will be presented to local residents and tourists visiting Andong to widely promote the beauty of the national flower, Mugunghwa.
This year, a Mugunghwa experience booth has been set up to allow students visiting the exhibition to create works using Mugunghwa, fostering a closer connection with the national flower.
An Andong Mugunghwa photo zone has also been installed to help tourists visiting the region create memories with the Mugunghwa flower.
Min Myeong-won, head of the Parks and Greenery Division of Andong City, said, “Through this event led by the Andong Mugunghwa Preservation Society, we hope that Andong Mugunghwa will be loved by more citizens as a beautiful flower integrated into daily life and be widely disseminated to become a true regional representative national flower.”
Andong Mugunghwa is a white-centered single flower of the Hibiscus syriacus species, characterized by a smaller and prettier flower compared to common Mugunghwa. Looking at the flower evokes a sense of dignity reminiscent of a scholar. Its blooming period is from July to October, and the blooming time lasts 36 hours, which is a distinctive feature compared to general Mugunghwa.
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