Kyung Chang Honorary Chairman Sohn Ki-chang was presented with the Order of Industrial Service, Silver Tower for his contribution to the development of the Korean automotive part exporting industry. Kyung was one of 35 winners of diverse prizes in recognition of their roles in the development of the automobile industry at the 12th Automobile Day anniversary event at the COEX InterContinental Hotel in Seoul on May 12. 

The event was hosted jointly by the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association (KAMA) and the Korea Auto Industries Coop. Association (KAICA). 

Among some 300 people on hand were Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Yoon Sang-jick and Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association (KAMA) Chairman Kim Yong-geun, Hyundai Motor President Chung Jin-haeng, Kia Motors President Park Han-woo The event was sponsored by KAMA and Korea Auto Industries Coop. Association, Renault Samsung President Francois Provost, Ssangyong Motor Senior Executive Vice President Lee Jae-wan, GM Korea Senior Executive Vice President Han Joo-ho, KAP President Lee Young-sup, and KAICA Director Shin Dal-suk. 

In his speech at the event, MOTIE Minister Yoon lauded everyone involved in the Korean automobile industry for their contributions. Despite internal and external uncertainties, the industry has maintained stable production and continued R&D investments, and the effectuation of FTAs has evolved the industry. Minister Yoon called for the strengthening of core capabilities and labor and management‘s proactive support. The government has worked out ways to help companies make inroads into foreign markets through FTAs, upgrading the structure of the automobile manufacturing industry and enhancing productivity through the Manufacturing Innovation 3.0 Initiative’s inclusive smart factories, and it has announced steps to provide support for the joint development of eco-friendly and self-driving cars between automakers and automotive parts SMEs, he said.

Sohn has been credited with developing a bicycle maker at a small storage house he ran in Daegu 40 years ago into an automotive parts maker that produces and exports such parts as chassis, transmission parts and wipers. Kyung Chang, which has 2,500 people at three incorporated companies and eight plants, is on a roll. Sales reached 552.8 billion won last year and exports expanded from $2 million in 1986 to $5 million in 1988, $100 million in 2011 and $300 million in 2013. 

Honorary Chairman Sohn said, “I’ll do myself in evolving Kyung Chang Industrial into a company not only contributing to the development of the Korean automobile industry but also Daegu’ representative growth engine.”

Automobile Day falls on May 12 to celebrate the nation’s 10 millionth automobile export on the same day in 1999. The event is held every year.

The Order of Industrial Service, Bronze Tower, went to Hyundai Motor Senior Executive Vice President Chun Kwi-il in recognition of his roles in improving quality and productivity through the development of new technologies such as flexible manufacturing of diverse car models, and enhancing global competitiveness through the construction and operation of overseas plants. 

Korea Wheel President Choi Hoon was presented with the Order of Industrial Service, Steel Tower for acquiring a wheel maker in face of bankruptcy and nurturing it into a company that now ranks eighth in the world, with annual production of 10 million wheels, through technology development, quality enhancement and securing global competitiveness by diversifying exporting markets. 

GM Korea Executive Vice President Hwang Yong-joo was honored with the Order of Industrial Service, Steel Tower, in recognition of promoting shared growth with its cooperative companies by giving them chances to win orders from GM Global and supporting their technology improvement.