Hyundai Motor throws cash at six Korean footballers for contribution at World Cup

Hyundai Motor granted six football players 240 million won ($187,000) for their contribution to making Korea advance to the round of 16 in the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Cho Gue-sung, center, wraps the Korean national flag around his back after a match against Portugal during the Qatar World Cup on Dec.2. [NEWS1]

Hyundai Motor granted six football players 240 million won ($187,000) for their contribution to making Korea advance to the round of 16 in the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup.

The six players are Cho Gue-sung, Kim Jin-su, Kim Moon-hwan, Song Bum-keun, Song Min-kyu and Paik Seung-ho, all of whom played for Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors before the World Cup. Jeonbuk is run by the carmaker. Each will be given 40 million won.

The company commended the footballers for showing perseverance despite tough conditions and for creating national pride.

Hyundai Motor has been an official automotive partner of FIFA for the last 23 years.

As a main sponsor of the Korea Football Association, the carmaker has also provided their vehicles to the national football team.

The company also launched a wide range of projects ahead of and during the World Cup.

One such project was the release of a remake of BTS's "Yet To Come" as a campaign song for the sports tournament.

The project is part of Hyundai Motor's Goal of the Century campaign, which began in April with the goal of encouraging universal support for carbon neutrality and a sustainable environment.

Hyundai Motor Executive Chair Euisun Chung is known for being keen on supporting the football team.

He ordered a renovation of a training facility, an initiative that cost 34 billion won. The clubhouse was completed in 2013 in Wanju, North Jeolla.

Chung regularly visits Jeonju World Cup Stadium, the home of the team. He made his way to the stadium in 2020 to attend a ceremony for retirement of Lee Dong-gook, a striker who played for Jeonbuk for more than a decade.

BY PARK EUN-JEE [park.eunjee@joongang.co.kr]