South Chungcheong Province (Chungnam) Wins 'Presidential Award' at Excellent Potted Rose of Sharon Evaluation... Mr. Jeong Gi-geun Wins Best Individual Award

[Financial News] South Chungcheong Province (Chungnam) won the Grand Prize, the highest honor in the group category, at the national competition to showcase the beauty and dignity of the national flower, the Rose of Sharon.
The Korea Forest Service (KFS) announced on the 9th that, following the judging of the '2026 Excellent Potted Rose of Sharon Evaluation,' a potted Hongdansim-gye (a variety with a red center on the petals) Rose of Sharon submitted by South Chungcheong Province (Chungnam) was selected for the Grand Prize (Presidential Award) in the group category. The Top Excellence Award (Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Award) in the individual category went to Mr. Jeong Gi-geun, who submitted a Baedal-gye Rose of Sharon boasting pure white beauty.
Organized to promote the value of the Rose of Sharon and expand its distribution in daily life, this event was conducted as a "visiting evaluation" involving 10 local governments nationwide. A total of 1,852 potted Rose of Sharon plants were submitted and showcased across the country through exhibitions held by each local government. A panel of expert judges visited the 10 venues to conduct on-site evaluations based on criteria such as artistic quality, aesthetics, and manageability, while the results of an online preference vote in which 1,610 members of the general public participated were also reflected.
In the group category, following South Chungcheong Province (Chungnam) (Grand Prize), Gangwon State won the Gold Prize (Prime Minister's Award), while North Chungcheong Province Government and Jeonbuk State Government won Silver Prizes, and Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City won the Bronze Prize. In the individual category, in addition to Mr. Jeong Gi-geun's Top Excellence Award, Mr. Jeon Yong-hui and Mr. Kang Chang-hyeon each received Excellence Awards. The list of winning entries can be checked on the Korea Forest Service (KFS) website (Forest Information by Field - Forest Protection).
Ahn Byung-ki, Head of the Urban Forest Landscape Division at the Korea Forest Service (KFS), stated, "This evaluation event was a meaningful occasion to share the beauty of carefully cultivated Rose of Sharon with the public," adding, "We will continue to pursue policies for distribution and promotion so that Rose of Sharon can be more easily encountered in daily life."
Meanwhile, the Rose of Sharon has recently been re-evaluated as an eco-friendly landscaping species with excellent effects in mitigating the urban heat island effect and reducing fine dust, breaking the conventional stereotype that it is susceptible to summer pests such as aphids and difficult to manage. The Korea Forest Service (KFS) and the National Institute of Forest Science have continuously researched and developed new varieties of Rose of Sharon that feature neat tree shapes, long flowering periods, and enhanced drought and pest resistance. It is reported that the entries submitted to this evaluation include many superior, pest-resistant varieties that embody these technological advancements.

[email protected] Kim Won-jun Reporter