| Grand Order of Mugunghwa | |
|---|---|
 Star of the order | |
Awarded by South Korea | |
| Type | Order of merit |
| Established | August 13, 1949 |
| Eligibility |
|
| Awarded for | Outstanding meritorious services in the interest of promoting the development and security of the Republic of Korea. |
| Status | Active |
| Precedence | |
| Next (higher) | None |
| Next (lower) |
|
 Insignia of the order _-_ribbon_bar.svg) Sash riband of the order | |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 무궁화대훈장 |
|---|---|
| Hanja | 無窮花大勳章 |
| RR | Mugunghwa daehunjang |
| MR | Mugunghwa taehunjang |
TheGrand Order of Mugunghwa (Korean:무궁화대훈장) is the highestnational order awarded bySouth Korea. It is awarded to thePresident of South Korea, and it may be awarded to their spouse, heads or former heads of state of South Korean allies, and their spouses. The order is presented for, "Outstanding meritorious services in the interest of promoting the development and security of the Republic of Korea."[1]
The Grand Order of Mugunghwa takes its name from South Korea's national flower, thehibiscus. The hibiscus is acultivar native to the Korean peninsula and has great cultural significance in Korean history.[2]
The Grand Order of Mugunghwa consists of "an insignia worn around the neck, a badge affixed to sash worn over the shoulder and a star, with a ribbon and a lapel badge as necessary", according to law.[1] The Grand Order of Mugunghwa may be made of gold, silver,ruby andamethyst. As of 2013, the cost to produce it was approximately 20 millionwon, or $19,000USD.[3]
The Grand Order of Mugunghwa is traditionally awarded to the incoming President of South Korea shortly after theirinauguration. However, Former PresidentRoh Moo-hyun opted to accept the award upon his departure from office in 2008. Subsequent presidents established this precedent and opted to receive the award after finishing their term in full (Lee Myung-bak andMoon Jae-in).[3]
After their conviction for treason in 1996, former presidentsChun Doo-hwan andRoh Tae-woo were ordered to return the Grand Order of Mugunghwa along with other state decorations. While Chun agreed to return the awards, he and Roh never did.
By statute, the Grand Order of Mugunghwa is the highest decoration in Korea; however, in the eyes of the public, it is not well regarded. Many Koreans feel that the order has far less significance. This is because it is self-awarded and is based on winning an election, not on any positive achievements for the country. It is also given to foreign heads of state, not necessarily because of what they have done for Korea, but for what they may do for Korea in the future.[4]
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| Orders (훈장) |
|  |
|---|---|---|
| Medals of Honours (포장) |
| |
| Commendations (표창) | Presidential Citation (awarded to Individuals and Organizations)- (e.g:Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation) Prime Minister's Citation (awarded to Individuals and Organizations
| |
| Titles (칭호) | ||