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Born of This Land: My Life Story

Chung Ju-yung

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Summary

Chung Ju-yung tells how he moved from a farming village into manual work, a rice shop and an auto repair business before building Hyundai. The account follows construction projects in Korea and abroad, the creation of Hyundai Motor and the shipbuilding business, and later work in public life. Chapters on the Soyang River Dam, Gyeongbu Expressway and Jubail project place business growth within Korea’s rebuilding and industrial development. Chung also sets out his views on work, people, wealth and the duties of a business. This English edition adds photographs, maps, notes and a chronology to help readers follow the Korean setting. It is the founder’s own retrospective account.

  • SourceThe Asan Institute — Born of This Land: description, preface and contents · 책 소개 (book description); Preface by Chung Mong Joon; contents: Chapters 2–5, pp. 19–207; Chapter 8, pp. 271–294; Chapter 9, pp. 295–325; Appendix B, p. 337. Publisher lists photographs, maps, notes and chronology added to the English edition.
  • SourceThe Asan Academy — English product leaflet · Page 1, Product Details (author, publisher, English language, 357 pages and ISBN 979-11-961934-4-7); About the Book (auto repair, dam, expressway, motor and shipbuilding account). Search-indexed primary text checked; direct PDF access returned 403.

Why read it Our view

Use the construction, overseas expansion and shipbuilding chapters to compare the skills, customer commitments and finance required before entering a new market. Read the founder’s account alongside the project dates and ask which lessons depend on the conditions of postwar Korea.

Written about

  • Chung Ju-yungAutobiography by the founder
    Chung’s own account, originally published in Korean in 1997 and issued in an English translation by the Asan Academy in 2019. The shelf uses the English edition; the publisher supplies its chapter list and preface.
    Source