National Mugunghwa Suwon Festival Opens on the 29th

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] The 32nd National Mugunghwa Suwon Festival will be held from the 29th to the 31st of this month at Suwon Youth Culture Park under the theme "Long Wait, Again, Our Flower."

Hosted by Suwon City and organized by the Korea Forest Service, the event will begin with a pre-ceremony performance at 6 p.m. on the 29th. The Suwon Hwaseong Haenggung Workshop Street Military Band will perform the "King's Procession" and distribute saplings to citizens, followed by performances by the Suwon Municipal Performance Group, Suwon Municipal Choir, and Gyeonggi Youth Choir. The opening ceremony at 7 p.m. will include the awards ceremony for the "Mugunghwa Cultivation Contest."

During the festival, visitors can view about 500 Mugunghwa potted plants and bonsai at the outdoor plaza of the Suwon Youth Culture Center, as well as 4,700 Mugunghwa bushes planted within the Youth Culture Park. Photos of Mugunghwa varieties by Director Park Hyung-soon of the Our Flower Education Institute and festival photos from 2012 to 2019 will also be on display.

On the evenings of the 29th and 30th, family-friendly movies will be screened on the main stage: "Extreme Job" at 8 p.m. on the 29th and "Zootopia" at 7:30 p.m. on the 30th. At 6 p.m. during the same period, the Suwon Municipal Performance Group will present musical highlights and martial arts performances.

Throughout the festival, small-scale performances such as haegeum (Korean traditional string instrument) recitals, magic shows, busking bands, and jazz bands will take place at various locations within the venue.

Temporary installation of shade tents will be permitted in designated areas within the park during the festival. Visitors can enjoy picnics and busking performances throughout the site.

Various events for citizen participation are also prepared. At a booth next to the stage in Suwon Youth Culture Park, 1,000 saplings of five Suwon Mugunghwa varieties will be distributed to citizens (300 to 400 people per day on a first-come, first-served basis).

On the 30th and 31st at 4:30 p.m., the "Mugunghwa Golden Bell Event - The Mugunghwa Flower Has Bloomed!" will be held, featuring quizzes related to Mugunghwa.

Winners will receive a hanji (traditional Korean paper) Mugunghwa frame, and participants will be given souvenirs. About 20 experience booths will operate, including making Mugunghwa bracelets, keychains, soaps, and educational sessions on understanding Mugunghwa properly.

The 9th National Flower Mugunghwa Symposium, inviting Mugunghwa experts to discuss the development plans for the Suwon brand and the Mugunghwa premium city, will be held on the 30th at 10 a.m. in the Milky Way Hall of the Youth Culture Center.

A city official stated, "We chose the festival theme 'Long Wait, Again, Our Flower' to comfort citizens who have endured difficult times due to COVID-19 and to look forward to a full recovery of daily life." He added, "With food trucks and a children's water play area, families can enjoy the festival together."

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