Korean envoy lauds Hyundai PH’s effort to fortify cultural partnership

Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI), the official distributor of Hyundai passenger cars and commercial vehicles in the Philippines, has gotten the support and praise of the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the Philippines. His Excellency Han Dong-Man was the guest of honor at Hyundai’s launch event at the 2019 Manila International Auto Show (MIAS) in April. He was also present at the Hyundai Dream Centre-Philippines (HDCP) in Laguna las May 6, 2019. 

The company was praised by Ambassador Han for promoting cultural and economic ties between Koreans and Filipinos. To pay homage to the countries he bridges, he delivered his speech in near flawless Filipino. 

This is the 70th year of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea. It is my great honor and privilege to be with you all today at this wonderful auto show with Hyundai. Now, HARI means king, so I believe that HARI will be the king of all the vehicle brands in the Philippines. Korea ranks as the 4th largest trading partner of the Philippines, following the U.S., China, and Japan. Last year, our trade volume reached USD 15.7 billion, increasing by 9.3% compared to 2017. Hyundai has contributed a lot to this, as Hyundai now accounts for more than 8% market share in the Philippines.

Han Dong-Man
Korean Ambassador to the Philippines

MIAS 2019 was the stomping ground of two all-new models to hit Philippine shores. The newest flagship SUV, the Hyundai Palisade, will be available in just a few more months. The SUV was awarded the 2019 Red Dot Award for its design in the “Product Design – Cars and Motorcycles.” To add to their releases, Hyundai launched the fully electric Kona EV to round out and add to the brand’s current lineup of forward-looking mobility solutions. 

Ambassador Han Dong-Man also noted that HDCP is an embodiment of the relationship between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea. The center stands as a world-class training and education hub for underprivileged youth to train with Hyundai to become expert automotive technicians. The facility was established last year in partnership with Hyundai Motor Company and Plan International. The first batch already graduated in November 2018 and have begun their careers in Hyundai dealerships nationwide. 

Hyundai and HARI will continue to support Korean culture in this wonderful country. Everyone here will be wonderful civil diplomats in bridging Korea and the Philippines. There are about 100,000 Koreans living in this wonderful country. With them, we will work hard to promote our friendship and partnership.

Han Dong-Man
Korean Ambassador to the Philippines

Related Articles