In 1994, on Arbor Day, President Kim Young-sam planted a cornelian cherry tree at the old main building grounds.
The cornelian cherry, often used as an ornamental tree, blooms in early summer with hundreds of pure white flowers atop each other. The absence of complex colors accentuates its simplicity and purity. The petals, actually modified leaves called bracts, form a cross shape when viewed from above. It is said that the tree used for Jesus' crucifixion was a type of cornelian cherry, leading to its widespread planting in gardens across Europe and the United States. It can be surmised that President Kim Young-sam, a devout Christian, chose to plant the cornelian cherry tree for this reason.
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