Chung Mong-koo of Hyundai Motor Group Contributes to Preservation of Shanghai Provisional Government Building

Support for Independence Patriots and Restoration of Historic Independence Movement Sites

Hyundai Motor Group's "private diplomacy" efforts, which contributed to the preservation of the Korean Provisional Government Building in Shanghai, China, are being revisited.

Temporary Government Building in Shanghai, China. Hyundai Motor Company

According to Hyundai Motor's sustainability report and other sources on January 4, Honorary Chairman Chung Mong-Koo of Hyundai Motor Group met with Han Zheng, then Mayor of Shanghai, at the Shanghai Municipal Government Building in May 2004. During the meeting, Chung requested that Korean companies be allowed to participate in the redevelopment project of the Luwan District, where the Provisional Government Building is located.

At the time, as Shanghai was preparing for the 2010 Shanghai Expo, the city planned to redevelop the entire Luwan District, including the Provisional Government Building. The project aimed to transform the relatively underdeveloped area surrounding the Provisional Government Building into a commercial district with shopping centers and entertainment facilities. However, concerns were raised that if a foreign company led the redevelopment of the Luwan District, the complete preservation of the Provisional Government Building could be threatened. As a result, the Korean government requested that Shanghai preserve "306 Lane, Nos. 3-5, and all of 318 Lane," the addresses of the Provisional Government Building.

The Shanghai city government maintained that, given the area around the Provisional Government Building had been neglected for decades, it could not exclude only the vicinity of the building from the redevelopment. In response, Honorary Chairman Chung personally requested cooperation from the Shanghai authorities to allow a Korean company to undertake the project.

Honorary Chairman Chung emphasized, "The Provisional Government Building, located in Shanghai-a global city where the advanced future and the golden age of old China coexist-is a symbol of Korea's spirit of independence and legitimacy. It holds special significance for the Korean people as a place of great national and historical importance," adding, "Given the deep interest of the Korean government and people in the Provisional Government Building, I hope you will support Korea in acquiring the redevelopment rights."

At the time, Yang Dinghua, then Deputy Secretary-General of Shanghai and Director of Urban Development, discussed economic cooperation measures between Shanghai and Hyundai Motor Company. Subsequently, a meeting was arranged between Mayor Han Zheng and Lee Chang-dong, then Minister of Culture, and ultimately, the redevelopment project promoted by Shanghai was put on hold, allowing the Provisional Government Building to be preserved in its entirety.

Temporary Government Building in Shanghai, China. Hyundai Motor Company

Shin Hyuntaek, then Director of Planning and Management at the Ministry of Culture, stated, "It was highly unusual for the plan to be completely suspended even after an international public tender, which shows how seriously the Chinese government regarded this matter," adding, "The preservation of the Provisional Government Building was pursued as a nationwide task through seamless cooperation between the public and private sectors, and our efforts were fully communicated to the Chinese government."

Meanwhile, Hyundai Motor Group is actively carrying out various projects to honor the spirit of sacrifice of those who dedicated themselves to Korea's independence. In August, the group signed a "Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the Promotion of National Veterans Affairs" with the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, pledging to support veterans' projects by digitizing historical records of the independence movement, providing ceremonial vehicles for the repatriation of remains, and donating shuttle buses to the National Cemetery. These efforts aim to enhance recognition for independence patriots and their families and to promote a culture of remembrance.

In particular, Hyundai Motor Group provides Genesis G90 and other ceremonial vehicles for transporting the remains and for the families of the deceased during repatriation ceremonies. The group also invites families attending these ceremonies to Hyundai Motorstudio Goyang as part of a special program.

Starting this year, the group will also actively participate in the preservation of independence movement sites around the world. Hyundai Motor Group plans to identify the status of overseas independence movement sites and, when necessary, work with the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs and other organizations to preserve sites in need of repair or restoration.

A Hyundai Motor Group representative stated, "Remembering the sacrifice and dedication of independence patriots and passing on their values to the next generation is a deeply meaningful endeavor," adding, "Hyundai Motor Group will continue to actively cooperate with the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs in veterans' activities, leveraging our human, material, and technological resources."