Founder of the Hyundai Group (pen name Asan)
| Life | 1915 ~ 2001 |
| Era | 근현대 |
| Clan | 하동 정씨 |
Chung Ju-yung was an entrepreneur from Tongcheon, Gangwon Province; his pen name was Asan (峨山). Born into a poor farming family, he moved to Seoul and, after working in a rice shop and an automobile repair business, founded Hyundai Civil Works (the forerunner of Hyundai Engineering & Construction) in 1947, building his business foundation.
He then successively founded Hyundai Engineering & Construction, Hyundai Motor, and Hyundai Heavy Industries, growing them into the Hyundai Group spanning construction, automobiles, and shipbuilding. Carrying out large domestic and overseas construction and heavy-industry projects during the government-led era of economic development, he became a figure symbolizing Korea's industrialization.
He took part in the campaign to host the 1988 Seoul Olympics, and in 1992 founded the Unification National Party and ran for president. In 1998 he crossed the Panmunjom border driving a herd of cattle on a visit to the North, engaging in inter-Korean economic cooperation.
Several of his sons divided and took over the Hyundai affiliate companies, which subsequently branched off and were carried on as the Hyundai Motor Group, Hyundai Heavy Industries, and others.