Korea's National Flower - "Mugunghwa" (Rose of Sharon)

According to records, Koreans have treasured The Rose of Sharon as a heavenly flower since ancient times. In fact, the Silla Kingdom called itself Mugunghwa Country. Love for the flower was further heightened when "Mugunghwa samcheolli hwaryeo gansan" ("Rose of Sharon, thousand miles of beautiful mountain and river land") was written into the national anthem in the late 19th century. As the Rose of Sharon has been an important part of the Korean culture for centuries, it was only natural that the government adopted it as the national flower after Korea was liberated from Japanese colonial rule.