Our Story

The story of Hyundai begins with one man: Chung Ju-yung, a visionary entrepreneur who transformed adversity into opportunity and built one of the world’s most influential industrial groups. He believed progress comes from courage, hard work and a refusal to accept limits. That spirit still shapes Hyundai today.

Chung Ju-yung was born in 1915 in rural Korea, into a poor farming family. From an early age, he experienced hardship and limited opportunities, which shaped his determination to build a better future.

Driven by ambition, he left his rural home to seek opportunities in the city. Chung Ju-yung started with small ventures, including a rice shop and later an automobile repair business. Despite facing severe setbacks, he never stopped moving forward. Instead, he repeatedly rebuilt, each time stronger and more determined.

In 1947, he founded Hyundai Engineering & Construction. But his vision went beyond building a company. He wanted to contribute to rebuilding and modernising Korea after the war. Hyundai quickly became involved in large infrastructure projects, playing a role in the country’s economic development. The name “Hyundai”, meaning modernity, reflects this ambition and forward-looking mindset.

His vision was simple but powerful:

If something does not exist, build it.

This mindset drove Hyundai to take on large-scale infrastructure projects, contributing to the reconstruction and industrialisation of Korea after the war.

From its origins in construction, Hyundai expanded into multiple industries, driven by Chung’s belief that growth stems from bold action and continuous innovation. Today, HD Hyundai is a global industrial group active in shipbuilding, energy, heavy equipment and advanced technologies. With annual revenues exceeding KRW 71 trillion, it ranks among the leading players in global heavy industry. Its worldwide operations combine engineering, manufacturing and innovation across multiple industries

The spirit of Chung Ju-yung still defines Hyundai today, including Hyundai Material Handling:

• A focus on practical innovation and reliability
• A commitment to continuous improvement
• A drive to support customers’ productivity and growth

It is this foundation that still shapes how Hyundai operates globally, from construction and heavy industry to forklifts and warehouse equipment.