Namyangju Deputy Mayor Attends Opening Ceremony of National Arboretum's 80th Liberation Anniversary Special Exhibition

Emphasizing the Value of Local History and Nature

Namyangju City in Gyeonggi Province (Mayor: Kwakduk Joo) announced that Deputy Mayor Jiseon Hong attended the opening ceremony of the special exhibition commemorating the 80th anniversary of Liberation Day, "In Search of the Lost Records of Our Plants," held at the Forest Museum of the National Arboretum on August 14.

Jiseon Hong, Deputy Mayor of Namyangju, is delivering a greeting at the opening ceremony of the special exhibition commemorating the 80th anniversary of Liberation Day, "In Search of the Lost Records of Our Plants," held at the Forest Museum of the National Arboretum on the 14th. Provided by Namyangju City

This exhibition was organized to shed new light on the natural environment and flora of Korea during the Japanese colonial period and to highlight the significance of restoring plant sovereignty, by showcasing 359 photographs and materials taken by British botanist E.H. Wilson during his plant exploration on the Korean Peninsula between 1917 and 1918.

In particular, the exhibition also introduces the research achievements of the late Professor Tae-Hyun Chung, presenting to the public the process of reclaiming the names and histories of Korean plants.

The opening ceremony was attended by key figures, including Deputy Mayor Jiseon Hong, Youngseok Lim, Director of the National Arboretum, Sangtae Lee, Chairman of the Haeun Foundation, as well as members of the academic community. The event included congratulatory remarks, a ribbon-cutting ceremony, and a tour of the exhibition.

The exhibition highlights Namyangju City as one of the main backgrounds featured in the photographs, emphasizing its connection to the region. It is expected to raise public awareness of the value of natural heritage and to foster broader cultural consensus among citizens.

In her congratulatory speech, Deputy Mayor Jiseon Hong stated, "This exhibition is a meaningful opportunity to reflect on the forgotten names and histories of our plants and to reconsider the significance of plant sovereignty. It is especially significant that our city is featured in these records. We will continue to work with the National Arboretum to preserve and promote the value of our region's natural heritage."

Meanwhile, the special exhibition "In Search of the Lost Records of Our Plants" will be held at the Forest Museum of the National Arboretum from August 14 to September 30. Visitors can experience the nature and ecology of the Korean Peninsula from 100 years ago through the exploration records and photographs of botanists from that era.

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