On April 5, nationwide tree planting campaigns took place everywhere in honor of Arbor Day. In cooperation with the Korea Forest Service, communities and villages worked to plant millions of saplings in local neighborhoods and in the countryside. KAIST also participated in the campaign by holding a 2013 Tree Planting event on campus.

The aims of the event were to build a pleasant campus environment and to promote a green KAIST. Red Cross Youth (RCY) KAIST and the President Sung-Mo Kang also participated in the event.

2013 Tree Planting was a three-hour event, consisting of three main parts: cleaning of KAIST buildings, a tree planting activity on Eoeun Hill, and a reception. Students of different academic departments, staff, and faculty cleaned their respective buildings as a way of welcoming spring. At the Outdoor Theater (W9), participants planted chestnut and pine trees. According to Seung Min Choi, President of RCY KAIST, approximately 200 trees were prepared for the activity that day. The participants then moved the venue to the duck pond area for reception.

RCY KAIST is one of the sub-organizations of 490, a student volunteering organization established in 2011. RCY was founded based on the philosophy of the International Red Cross and the Red Crescent Movement, and has been active in informing KAIST students of volunteering activities.

From being on the verge of deforestation in the 1950s, Korea has since then become a model for reforestation in the world. Korea has planted over 11 billion trees that now cover two-thirds of the nation.