Hyundai Motor Group chief receives Commander of British Empire title

Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung has been appointed as an honorary Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his contributions to electric mobility and the arts.

Hyundai Motor Group Chair Euisun Chung, right, receives the Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire presented by British Ambassador to Korea Colin Crooks on Tuesday at the embassy in central Seoul. [HYUNDAI MOTOR GROUP]

Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung has been awarded a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) in recognition of his contribution to electric mobility and the arts.

Chung is the first Korean to receive the honor since King Charles III’s accession to the throne.

The award was presented by British Ambassador to Korea Colin Crooks on behalf of the king at the British embassy in Seoul on Tuesday.

The CBE title is given to those who contributed to British society in fields that include technology, science, sport, arts, culture, politics, industry and the economy. The British government departments nominate candidates, and the final recipients are approved by the monarch after close review.

Chung has been awarded the CBE title in acknowledgment of his contribution to bolstering economic and cultural ties between the United Kingdom and Korea, through his commitment to broaden EV adoption and support for culture and art, which includes a long-standing sponsorship of Tate Modern, a modern art gallery in London.

Hyundai Motor has supported Tate Modern since 2014 under a 12-year partnership. The carmaker is also the title sponsor of the golf tournament Genesis Scottish Open.

The executive chair’s grandfather and Hyundai Group Founder Chung Ju-yung also received the CBE title in 1997.

Hyundai Group founder Chung Ju-yung, right, receives the CBE award in 1977 by William Bates, British Ambassador to Korea at the time. [HYUNDAI MOTOR GROUP]

Following in the footsteps of his grandfather, Euisun Chung’s leadership “has taken Hyundai Motor Group’s partnership with our country to unprecedented levels of collaboration,” said British Ambassador Crooks.

“I believe this honor has been bestowed upon me not for my individual service, but in recognition of Hyundai Motor Group’s contributions to our two nations’ cooperation and friendship,” said Chung, promising that “We will further contribute to our bilateral cooperation in business, art, culture, sports, and public service.”

The executive chair added that “the spirit of Hyundai Motor Group has always been to achieve what may seem impossible now, and to excel beyond expectations. And we know that this was possible because we have friends like you.”

Hyundai Motor Group first entered the British market in 1982. It sold 173,000 cars this year through October in the country. The group takes 9.2 percent of the total market share.

The carmaker sold 28,000 EVs, holding the country's third largest EV market share following Tesla and Volkswagen Group.

BY SHIN HA-NEE [shin.hanee@joongang.co.kr]