Gangneung Bangdong-ri Rose of Sharon

From July to October is the season when the rose of Sharon, the national flower of Korea, blooms. Around this time every year, the rose of Sharon blooms across the country, but among them, the oldest and thickest existing rose of Sharon is in Gangneung Bangdong-ri. This rose of Sharon is located at the ancestral shrine of Park Su-ryang, the central progenitor of the Gangneung Park clan, and the old house where our ancestors lived during the Silla period is also well preserved here, offering various attractions.

Designated as Natural Monument No. 520, the Bangdong-ri rose of Sharon was estimated to be 110 years old at the time of its designation. As of 2023, the estimated age of the Bangdong-ri rose of Sharon is 122 years. At the time of its designation as a Natural Monument, its trunk circumference was 146 cm, making it not only the oldest rose of Sharon but also the one with the thickest circumference. It is a red-centered type with reddish-pink petals, preserving the original form of a pure native species.