Installation of a Sculpture Depicting the Success Story of the Late Chung Ju-yung, Honorary Chairman of Hyundai Group, in Ssa-jeon Street (Toegye-ro 81-gil), Sinjungang Market, Jung-gu, Seoul, Creating a Historical and Cultural Street
Jung-gu, Seoul (Mayor Kim Gil-seong) is installing a sculpture that tells the success story of the late Chung Ju-yung, Honorary Chairman of Hyundai Group, on Ssajeon Street (Toegye-ro 81-gil) in Sinjungang Market, and is working to create a historical and cultural street.
The Sindang-dong area, recently emerging as a 'hot place' for the MZ generation, was home to Seoul's largest rice market in the 1950s and 60s. On this street was 'Bokheung Sanghoe,' where Chairman Chung Ju-yung worked as a young clerk. The young Chung Ju-yung, who took over the store from the rice shop owner, renamed it 'Gyeongil Sanghoe' and led the rice store to prosperity with his exceptional diligence and sincerity. It is said that the success he achieved in the rice store laid the foundation for building Hyundai Group into a global enterprise.
Traces of rice stores still remain throughout Ssajeon Street. For the past five years, cafes and restaurants created by remodeling spaces that were used as rice warehouses have gained great popularity among young people and foreign tourists.
Jung-gu installed an information board and sculpture on the 26th to reflect on Chairman Chung Ju-yung’s ‘life and challenges’ together with the young people visiting ‘Hipdang-dong.’ An information board showing the location of Ssajeon Street was placed at Exit 1 of Sindang Station, and sculptures engraved with Chairman Chung Ju-yung’s success story and sayings were arranged along Ssajeon Street.
From phrases left by Chung Ju-yung during his lifetime, such as “If there is no path, find a path, and if there is none even after searching, pave a path,” and “Action creates habit, habit creates character, and character determines the management of life,” one can read his attitude toward life and the profound influence he left on our history.
Jung-gu plans to add Sindang-dong Ssajeon Street to the existing 'Gwanghuimun Moonlight Road' guided walking tour starting in March next year. Additionally, they plan to share the historical significance of this area with tour participants and residents, gather opinions, and further enrich the story of Ssajeon Street.
Kim Gil-seong, Mayor of Jung-gu, said, “It is interesting and thought-provoking that the history of Hyundai Motor Company, favored worldwide, began at Ssajeon Street in Sindang-dong,” and added, “Jung-gu’s project to reexamine a self-made figure who started from the ‘basics’ of diligence and sincerity is expected to give strength to young people going through difficult times.”
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