Reflect on the meaning of liberation among 198 varieties of mugunghwa at the Jigang Yang Han-muk Historic House in Okcheon.
Okcheon-myeon in Haenam-gun will hold a mugunghwa festival to mark Liberation Day.
The township is hosting the 9th Okcheon Mugunghwa Festival on Friday at the Jigang Yang Han-muk Historic House to commemorate the 81st anniversary of Liberation Day.
Okcheon-myeon is the hometown of Chung Jeong-gong General Jeong Un, a hero of the Imjin War, and Yang Han-muk, one of the 33 national representatives of the March 1st Independence Movement. Historic sites connected to both figures — including Sungsan Manuichong, the Yang Han-muk birthplace, the Jeong Un Loyalty Shrine and the five-story stone pagoda in Tapdong — are scattered across the area, giving Okcheon a reputation within Haenam for its strong tradition of patriotism and loyalty.
Yang Han-muk was one of the 33 signatories of the 1919 March 1st Movement declaration. Japanese colonial authorities arrested him, and he died in Seodaemun Prison. In Yeongsin Village, where he was born, a martyrdom monument, a restored birthplace and a memorial hall now stand in his honor.
The Okcheon Mugunghwa Garden, established on the grounds of the Yeongsin-ri birthplace, reaches full bloom around Liberation Day each year, keeping Yang's spirit alive. The garden holds about 1,500 trees representing 198 varieties of mugunghwa — Korea's national flower, whose cycle of blooming and fading from June through September mirrors the tenacious vitality of the Korean people — adding further meaning to the independence movement heritage site. The Korea Forest Service recognized the garden with an encouragement award, third place, in its 11th National Flower Mugunghwa Landmark Competition.
Local residents have led the national flower festival themselves since 2015.
This year, the festival will begin at 4 p.m. to help visitors escape the midsummer heat, giving them a chance to enjoy the mugunghwa in full bloom and reflect on the significance of Liberation Day.
The program includes a commemorative ceremony, celebratory performances and food stalls, with activities for all ages. Hands-on booths will also be available, offering mugunghwa pot-decorating and keyring-making workshops.
Song Woo-jong, chairman of the Mugunghwa Festival organizing committee, said he hopes the 9th Okcheon Mugunghwa Festival will be a meaningful occasion for rekindling patriotic spirit and fostering community harmony, and urged broad public participation.
kkm9971@heraldcorp.com
