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HyundaiHyundai refers to a group of companies founded by Chung Ju-yung in North Korea. The first Hyundai company was founded in 1947 as a construction company, and the Hyundai Group eventually became South Korea's largest conglomerate company (Jaebeol). Some of the best-known Hyundai organization are Hyundai Motor Company - the world's 5th largest automaker, Hyundai Heavy Industries - the world's largest shipbuilder, and Hynix - a top semiconductor manufacturer. Other companies currently or formerly controlled by members of Chung's extended family may be loosely referred to as a part of the Hyundai chaebol. Hyundai Group underwent a massive restructuring following the 1997 East Asian financial crisis and the founder's death in 2001. Today many companies are bearing the name Hyundai but are legally unrelated to the Hyundai Group. Some of the larger former members of the conglomerate include Hyundai Group, Hyundai Kia Automotive Group, Hyundai Department Store Group, Hyundai Heavy Industries Group, and Hyundai Development Group. Following the separation, Hyundai Group's business remains manufacturing of elevators, container shipping services, and tourism. Name and pronunciation
Hyundai Headquarters Building
Hyundai I'Park Building
The word hyeondae 현대 (Korean pronunciation: [çʌndɛ]) means "modern times" in Korean and in languages that use Chinese characters. The closest English approximation would be /ˈhjʌndeɪ/ HYUN-day. However, it is generally pronounced /ˈhʌndeɪ/ HUN-day in North America, with a silent y; as /haɪˈʌndaɪ/ hye-UN-dye in the United Kingdom, with an extra syllable; and as /hiːˈʌndaɪ/ hee-UN-dye in Australia. Early American advertising for the Hyundai Excel informed readers that the name "rhymes with Sunday" ("sundae"), which is the closest approximation to the Korean pronunciation. In Japan it is ヒュンダイ [çjɯndai], closer to the Korean than the Japanese reading of the Chinese characters 現代, [ɡendai]. See also |
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