Tragedy a family member
Published: 05 Aug. 2003, 02:56
The suicide of Chung Mong-hun yesterday was just the latest in a series of sad events that have visited the family of Chung Ju-yung, the late founder of the Hyundai Group.
The senior Mr. Chung played a major role in the miraculous growth of the Korean economy from the ruins of a devastating war.
But Mr. Chung, who died in 2001, outlived two of his sons, a daughter-in-law and a younger brother, who each died of accidents or illnesses.
Mr. Chung’s favorite brother, Sin-yeong, died in 1962 from an intestinal obstruction while studying in Germany.
He was 31 years old.
Mr. Chung made much of his brother, a Dong-A Ilbo reporter, praising him as being his most intelligent sibling.
In 1977, the tycoon established a research fund in his brother’s memory.
In April 1982, the tycoon lost his eldest son, Mong-pil, in a car crash.
Mr. Chung’s son was then president of INI Steel Co.
Eight years later, Mr. Chung’s fourth son, Mong-u, was found dead in a hotel room after killing himself with poison.
The fourth son had a history of mental disorder.
In 1991, Lee Yang-ja, the wife of Mr. Chung’s deceased eldest son, died of illness.
The late tycoon and his sixth son, Chung Mong-joon, each made failed bids for the Korean presidency.
In 2000, family members of the Hyundai Group founder were embroiled in a family feud, dubbed as the “revolt of the princes,” which eventually led to the breakup of the conglomerate.
The late Chung Mong-hun and his elder brother, Chung Mong-koo, chairman of Hyundai Motor Co., vied for control of the conglomerate.
In 2001, Hyundai Motor separated from Hyundai Group when Chung Mong-hun was chosen to continue his father’s legacy of overseeing the group’s inter-Korean tourism projects.
Halla Group, controlled by another of Chung Ju-yung’s younger brothers, In-yung, went defunct in 1997.
Chung Mong-won and Chung Mong-kook, sons of Chung In-yung, had also been embroiled in a family feud over control of the group.
Chung Mong-won, the second son, was convicted in May 2002 for illegally orchestrating the support of ailing Halla Engineering and Construction Corp. by other well-performing Halla affiliates.
by Kim Sang-woo
The senior Mr. Chung played a major role in the miraculous growth of the Korean economy from the ruins of a devastating war.
But Mr. Chung, who died in 2001, outlived two of his sons, a daughter-in-law and a younger brother, who each died of accidents or illnesses.
Mr. Chung’s favorite brother, Sin-yeong, died in 1962 from an intestinal obstruction while studying in Germany.
He was 31 years old.
Mr. Chung made much of his brother, a Dong-A Ilbo reporter, praising him as being his most intelligent sibling.
In 1977, the tycoon established a research fund in his brother’s memory.
In April 1982, the tycoon lost his eldest son, Mong-pil, in a car crash.
Mr. Chung’s son was then president of INI Steel Co.
Eight years later, Mr. Chung’s fourth son, Mong-u, was found dead in a hotel room after killing himself with poison.
The fourth son had a history of mental disorder.
In 1991, Lee Yang-ja, the wife of Mr. Chung’s deceased eldest son, died of illness.
The late tycoon and his sixth son, Chung Mong-joon, each made failed bids for the Korean presidency.
In 2000, family members of the Hyundai Group founder were embroiled in a family feud, dubbed as the “revolt of the princes,” which eventually led to the breakup of the conglomerate.
The late Chung Mong-hun and his elder brother, Chung Mong-koo, chairman of Hyundai Motor Co., vied for control of the conglomerate.
In 2001, Hyundai Motor separated from Hyundai Group when Chung Mong-hun was chosen to continue his father’s legacy of overseeing the group’s inter-Korean tourism projects.
Halla Group, controlled by another of Chung Ju-yung’s younger brothers, In-yung, went defunct in 1997.
Chung Mong-won and Chung Mong-kook, sons of Chung In-yung, had also been embroiled in a family feud over control of the group.
Chung Mong-won, the second son, was convicted in May 2002 for illegally orchestrating the support of ailing Halla Engineering and Construction Corp. by other well-performing Halla affiliates.
by Kim Sang-woo
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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