Seoul Botanic Park marks Liberation Day with massive flower showcase

Long before it became the official national flower of Korea, the "mugunghwa" — or Rose of Sharon — held a quiet, defiant place in the country's collective memory.

During decades of Japanese colonial rule in the early 20th century, the resilient pink and white blossom was systematically targeted for eradication, viewed by imperial authorities as a dangerous symbol of Korean independence and cultural endurance.

As Korea prepares to mark the 81st anniversary of its liberation from colonial rule on Aug.

15, the Seoul Botanic Park said Friday it will open a massive, 18-day exhibition celebrating the historical flower.

Featuring 6,086 mugunghwa plants spanning 104 distinct varieties, the outdoor display in the park's Open Forest aims to reintroduce urbanites to a blossom whose story is deeply intertwined with the nation's modern sovereignty.

Running from Aug.

1-18, the showcase goes beyond standard horticulture to feature rare floral bonsai and preserved genetic lineages.

Among the highlights is the public debut of a "descendant tree" saved through advanced genetic preservation techniques ...