'60th Trade Day' Hyundai Motor, $30 Billion Highest Export Tower (Comprehensive)

Hyundai Motor Awarded $30 Billion Export Tower
Kia $20 Billion, LG Innotek $10 Billion, Samsung SDI $6 Billion
Total 1,704 Companies Receive Export Tower Awards

The Korea International Trade Association announced on the 5th that it held the '60th Trade Day Commemoration Ceremony' at COEX in Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. About 1,200 people, including trade contributors and heads of government and related organizations, attended the event.

The government established 'Export Day' on November 30, 1964, to commemorate South Korea's achievement of $100 million in exports. In 1990, the name was changed to Trade Day. On December 5, 2011, South Korea became the ninth country in the world to achieve $1 trillion in trade, and from 2012, the date was changed from November 30 to December 5.

President Yoon Suk-yeol is taking a commemorative photo with Jang Jae-hoon, CEO of Hyundai Motor Company, after presenting the $30 billion Export Tower at the 60th Trade Day ceremony held on the 5th at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul.
[Photo by Presidential Office Press Photographers Group, Yonhap News]

This year's ceremony slogan is "60 Years of Export-Driven Nation, Korea Leaps Again!" The Export Tower award is given when a corporation's annual export amount (calculated from July 1 to June 30) surpasses a specific threshold, setting a new record. There are a total of 49 categories.

For example, a company awarded the $30 billion Export Tower is one that has never before recorded annual exports exceeding $30 billion but sets a new record in that year.

Hyundai Motor Company received the highest Export Tower award for $30 billion. Kia received the $20 billion award, LG Innotek the $10 billion, and Samsung SDI the $6 billion Export Tower awards, respectively.

President Yoon Suk-yeol is taking a commemorative photo with Song Ho-sung, CEO of Kia, after presenting the $20 billion Export Tower at the 60th Trade Day ceremony held at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul on the 5th. Photo by Presidential Office Press Photographers Group, Yonhap News Agency

Hyundai Motor recorded exports of $31 billion (approximately 40.6 trillion KRW) from July 1 last year to June 30 this year, a 29.6% increase compared to the same period last year ($23.9 billion). Kia's exports were $23.5 billion (approximately 30.8 trillion KRW), up 30.7% from $18 billion in the previous year. A Hyundai Motor and Kia official said, "Despite the global economic downturn, we improved the sales mix and expanded global sales, achieving the highest export performance."

A total of 1,704 companies received Export Tower awards. Among the awardees, 91% (1,555 companies) were small and medium-sized enterprises. By industry, the automotive sector (7.2%, 122 companies) and secondary battery sector (8.2%, 140 companies) showed remarkable growth.

Government awards and commendations were given to 596 trade promotion contributors. The Korea International Trade Association President's Commendation was awarded to 80 people. Son Bo-ik, CEO of LX Semicon, and Oh Seok-song, CEO of Meta Biomed, among others, received the Gold Tower Industrial Medal.