LG Provides 5,000 Mugunghwa Trees Free to 1,000 Elementary, Middle, and High Schools

[Asia Economy Reporter Suyeon Woo] The LG Sangnok Foundation announced on the 12th that it will provide 5,000 Mugunghwa trees free of charge to 1,000 elementary, middle, and high schools nationwide by 2023 to help young people become more familiar with the Mugunghwa, a symbol of Korea.

Starting last year by delivering Mugunghwa saplings to Osan High School in Seoul, founded by independence activist Namgang Lee Seunghun, and Kyungshin High School in Seoul, the alma mater of Dosan Ahn Changho, the foundation supplied about 1,500 saplings to approximately 300 schools nationwide this year.

The national flower, Mugunghwa, is an ornamental tree whose blossoms bloom and fall repeatedly every day for about 100 days during the summer. In the past, it was easily seen in schools, streets, and parks. As of the end of last year, among the 9.37 million street trees nationwide, Mugunghwa accounted for only about 5%, approximately 510,000 trees, indicating the need for continued attention.

LG Sangnok Foundation will provide 5,000 Mugunghwa trees free of charge to 1,000 schools nationwide by 2023. Students at Osan High School in Seoul, who received the Mugunghwa trees, are taking care of the trees.
Photo by LG Group

To this end, the LG Sangnok Foundation signed a business agreement with the Korea Forest Service to promote Mugunghwa research and distribution. They established a Mugunghwa nursery near Hwadam Forest, an arboretum located in Gonjiam, Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi-do, where they planted about 8,000 excellent Mugunghwa varieties such as Seondeok and Wonhwa and have been systematically managing their growth. Additionally, Hwadam Forest has a 'Mugunghwa Hill' with 2,500 trees so visitors can easily enjoy the beautiful flowers of superior varieties.

Especially for this year's supply, healthy saplings over 1.5 meters tall are prioritized to ensure schools can properly grow and manage the Mugunghwa saplings. Crop protection agents donated by Farm Hannong, LG's agricultural materials specialist company, are also provided to help schools easily care for the trees on their own.

Along with this, since last year, the LG Sangnok Foundation has been working with the National Institute of Forest Science to develop 'indoor Mugunghwa varieties' that can be easily grown at home. The goal is not only to reduce the tree size but also to develop new varieties that are resistant to pests and diseases and can bloom normally indoors, such as in apartments with limited sunlight and ventilation. This involves combining the excellent traits of existing improved varieties. Once the indoor Mugunghwa is developed, the LG Sangnok Foundation plans to produce and distribute cultivation manuals that the general public can easily learn from.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.