Three decades ago, Hyundai was dismissed as a minor Korean manufacturer known for producing unattractive, low-cost, and unreliable cars. The brand was often ridiculed, with jokes suggesting that its value doubled simply by filling up the gas tank.
Fast forward to today, and Hyundai stands among the top-quality car manufacturers worldwide, surpassing industry titans like Honda, Ford, and General Motors. It has risen to become the third-largest automaker on the planet.
What makes this transformation remarkable is the story of the man who initiated it all. Born into a farming family, he was a boy determined to escape poverty. Leaving home as a teenager, he faced a series of failures, setbacks, and humiliations along the way.
Yet, against all odds, he built South Korea's largest company, dominating not just the automotive sector but also shipbuilding, construction, and other industries. This extraordinary journey turned him into the wealthiest man in Korea.
This is the inspiring tale of Hyundai’s rise and the visionary behind it, Chung Ju-Yung.
