The late Chung Ju-yung
Chung Ju-yung (1915.11.25. ~ 2001. 3.21.)
A South Korean businessman and politician. Also known as 'King Chairman'. He was the founder and first chairman of Hyundai Group, and a representative first-generation entrepreneur of South Korea. He is a self-made, legendary figure who rose from humble beginnings with only a primary school education to build the massive Hyundai Group in the turbulent modern and contemporary history of Korea.
Starting with rice delivery in the 1930s, he went on to establish automobile repair and construction businesses, becoming a leading entrepreneur who drove South Korea's economic growth in the 20th century. In the 1990s, he entered politics but was unsuccessful in his election bid. In 1998, he spearheaded the North Korean business by driving a herd of cattle into North Korea, leading to the development of tourism in Mount Kumgang. He passed away in 2001.
His pen name is 'Asan (峨山)', derived from the name of his hometown village in Gangwon-do province in North Korea. Today, there is a road named Asan-ro in Ulsan Metropolitan City, named after his pen name.
There may be setbacks, but there is no failure.
I believe that there are no miracles in politics and economics, although there may be miracles in religion.
What economists call miracles are simply lame excuses for the realization of what is impossible according to economic theory and numbers.
We have undeniably achieved what was impossible in theory or academia.
It was achieved through the forward-looking spirit, pioneering spirit, and passionate efforts of our people.
It is the power of the mind.
Conviction creates unwavering effort.
This is the key to miracles.
Our country has lost its forward-looking spirit and has wasted a long time fighting among families and siblings within this small landmass instead of thinking about expanding to the land or the sea.
From a principled perspective, everything about the Korean economy was impossible. There was no capital, no resources, and no accumulated technology to win economic wars. This was our reality. Nevertheless, the fact that we have brought our industry to this level today is, in my opinion, the result of a unique sense of mission and effort to fill all our shortcomings with creativity and a forward-looking adventurous spirit.
The success or failure of any undertaking depends on the thinking and attitude of the person doing it. It is certainly a great adventure, but without adventure, we will stagnate, then fall behind, and then collapse.
It's the power of the mind. Conviction can create unwavering effort. A forward-looking spirit, this was the key to the miracle. I have been in business until today, taking the joy of overcoming what people define as their own limits as my reward, and I am still challenging myself today.
Human potential is limitless. This limitless human potential promises unlimited possibilities to everyone.
For anyone, anything, the proactive mindset of learning everything needed and making it my own, the forward-looking attitude of expanding small experiences into big realities, I have never hesitated in my life. If one's belief in a goal is strong and one puts in the corresponding effort, anyone can do anything. Everyone can do it.
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