KAIST

< (From right) President Kwang Hyung Lee, donors Namkyung Ko and Haeyoung Oh, and KAIST management >

On September 15, KAIST announced that it held a commemorative ceremony at 11:30 a.m. in front of the main building (E14) in Daejeon to plant 1,000 Mugunghwa trees, symbolizing the university's mission and challenging spirit as a leading science and technology institution in Korea.

This project was made possible by a donation from the couple Haeyoung Oh and Namkyung Ko, and the ceremony was attended by President Kwang Hyung Lee, other key university officials, and the donors.

The KAIST campus is already well-known for its spectacular cherry blossom-lined paths in the spring and its charming scenery with ducks and geese. The addition of a new Mugunghwa path, which will beautify the campus in the summer, will transform it into a place where the beauty of nature and the passion for learning coexist year-round.

Approximately 700 trees will be planted at the main Daejeon campus, with around 300 to be planted at the Seoul and Munji campuses. The Mugunghwa trees are expected to become a new landmark of the campus, alongside the cherry blossoms. Students, faculty, staff, and visitors will be able to walk along the flowered paths and find rest, inspiration, and a message of challenge.

Established in 1971 to realize the national goal of economic development through science and technology, KAIST is Korea's first specialized university for science and engineering. Over the past half-century, it has led the nation's remarkable industrialization and advanced technological development by nurturing world-class scientific and technological talent and conducting innovative research. Today, it is recognized as a key driving force behind Korea's leap toward becoming a global leader in artificial intelligence. This journey has always been centered on KAIST's challenges and achievements.

< (From left) Haeyoung Oh, Namkyung Ko, and President Kwang Hyung Lee >

Considering this history and mission, planting the national flower, Mugunghwa, on campus is not just a simple planting but a symbolic act of creating a path that represents the development of Korean science and technology. The Mugunghwa’s persistent vitality and challenging spirit align with the very spirit of KAIST.

Currently, KAIST is home to over 1,580 students and researchers from 108 countries. Just as "K-pop Demon Hunters" recently garnered global attention and showcased a new face of Korean culture, the Mugunghwa path will also serve as a place for international members to directly experience Korean culture and as a symbol of KAIST's openness, diversity, and innovative spirit.

Donors Haeyoung Oh and Namkyung Ko have no direct ties to KAIST but are supporters who have been making monthly donations since 2022 out of a shared belief in the importance of scientific and technological development. Haeyoung Oh, who attended the event, shared, "I am delighted to be part of this meaningful event of planting our national flower, the Mugunghwa." He added, "I hope KAIST continues to grow as a resilient and ever-blooming university, just like the Mugunghwa."

President Kwang Hyung Lee stated, "The Mugunghwa is the flower that represents Korea and a symbol of the KAIST spirit." He continued, "Following the noble intentions of our donors, KAIST will grow even further as a cradle of scientific and technological challenges that change the world." President Lee also expressed his hope that "this Mugunghwa path will become a space of inclusion where global community members can experience Korean culture and find rest and inspiration."

< Donors and KAIST management participating in the Mugunghwa tree planting ceremony >