Some people felt that the Korean government was “wielding a cotton bat” when it handed down a three-year suspended jail sentence to Chung Mong-koo – the Hyundai/Kia chairman that was convicted of embezzling $100 million – in lieu of actual jail time, but it looks as though the Korean government has ditched that bat altogether and is now just going with the cotton.
South Korea’s Ministry of Justice will pardon Chung – along with 340,000 others – on August 15th, which coincides with the republic’s 60th anniversary, according to Automotive News. Presidential pardons are an annual affair in South Korea, and usually take place on the country’s founding and other holidays.
However, most of the pardons are for lesser crimes, not embezzling $100 million. Despite stealing more than $100 million from the company, Hyundai’s shareholders recently reinstate Chung to the company’s board.



08/12, 10:40 AM
posted by:
HemiRoadRunner
Who are the idiots that said by buying foreign cars our money does NOT go to foreign countires? Hmmmm, it looks like some ***** named chung mong koo is taking your hard earned American dollars with the false sense that your helping the American economy. Keep giving these foreigners YOUR money! Dumb@$$ import humpers.
08/12, 10:46 AM
posted by:
beatusmongous
Wow. South Korea sounds like a great place to steal. I wonder if any part of that $100 million was given to the South Korean President. Maybe I’ll go live over there for a couple of years, embezzle some money, pay off the government, get a pardon, and bring all that money back.
08/12, 10:51 AM
posted by:
tripleonefive
I would rather give my money to someone who will give me a better product. Its sad to say but hyundai is surpassing GM in quality
I havent seen GM resale values get a 33% bump.
08/12, 10:59 AM
posted by:
jonnycat
Oh no a foreign car company had money to steal, so don’t buy from them.
It is plausible to think that a Coporation as large as Hyundai, may make a profit, by selling things they manufacture, and a portion of that money may make it back to where the company originates from.
HHR, if you actually own a newer LX platform car with a HEMI, thanks for giving Canada, a foreign country, your money.
08/12, 11:03 AM
posted by:
HemiRoadRunner
^^^^ What a dumb@$$. I don’t have one, yet. I will be buying a Challenger R/T in a few months though. But, I don’t see Canada as an economic threat like I do, hmmmm, say KOREA (a nuclear armed country) or CHINA (the communist superpower). But if some canadian lumberjacks worry you then that’s your problem.
08/12, 11:04 AM
posted by:
jumpoffit
i give my hard earned money to female Korean stippers
– i love to hump those imports
08/12, 11:07 AM
posted by:
crackerhemi
HomoRR may be dumb, but he knows how to spend what little money he does have. He is waiting for Chrysler to go bankrupt first, so he can buy a car from their going out of business sales.
08/12, 11:11 AM
posted by:
tripleonefive
You are an idiot that was sold the american dream on a silver platter
You “buy American” “support our troops” and all the other bs. What you dont realize is american companies are where they are now bc of people like yourself
People who bought american bc it was american and not bc it was the best product. This allowed the Japanese companies to come in and make a better more reliable product. Eventually Americans were tired of buying crap cars and woke up.
But you, who prob live in a trailer drinks BUD and sleeps with his sister wouldnt understand that
“That thing got a Hemi??”
08/12, 11:25 AM
posted by:
global_lightning
Televised sepukku ceremony now cancelled
(Yeah, that’s a joke. I know the difference between Japan and Kora)
08/12, 11:51 AM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
Who wants to pardon a millionaire. Is Regis Philbin the guest host?
08/12, 12:31 PM
posted by:
jayjc08
Does Batman exist in Korea?
08/12, 12:49 PM
posted by:
shaver
What happened to the infamous asian honor and shame. Men would kill themselves before going BK. Sounds like Korea is full of shady, honorless thiefs, top to bottom.
08/12, 1:12 PM
posted by:
crackerhemi
if only crackers (food product) possessed that trait, shaver.
08/12, 1:28 PM
posted by:
megeebee
And so many in this country think that only American auto execs are ruthless and criminal….
08/12, 1:53 PM
posted by:
CleanGTO
But the question remains: Will he be pardoned for passing a Hyundai off as an actual, working vehicle instead of the rolling junk pile it actually is? Go Korea! Keep buying up this junk America and see where it lands our Execs.
08/12, 2:27 PM
posted by:
injunraiv
Geez, 1115 with that same old tired argument. What you’re seeing here is pathological dishonesty at an institutional level, and that should be excused because someone told you that Hyundai had a 33% bump in residual value. Yikes!
Go have some more Honda kool aid and STFU…
08/12, 3:11 PM
posted by:
ktulu
that’s how it works if U get $.
U can steel more w/ a bfrifcase than you can w/ a goun, & U get to seem all contrite when U get caught.
think if I stone $250 for the Utah DMV petty-cash drawer I’d get pardoned?
“wielding a cotton bat,” very good meta4.
‘Despite stealing more than $100 million from the company, Hyundai’s shareholders recently reinstate Chung to the company’s board.” I’m learning korean now!
thos story is not about idiots buying 4n cars. that can actually B a serice. when people buy 4n cars, big 3 cars get better.
I’d like to no the word theat came b4 “named chung mong koo.”
I also wonder if any part of that $100 million was given to the South Korean President. It wood then clear up Y there was that fat pardon.
I wood also rather give my money to someone who will give me a better product. hyundai is not surpassing GM in quality, but GM has 0 room for error. Hyundai is really working hard 2 earn a rep.
I will be not buying a Challenger R/T, but I would.
many female Koreans R cute.
we should support our troops, even if they R in a useless, ¢less war.
american companies R where they R now bcuz people were not afraid 2 buy 4n & they had 2 respond.
yeys, Eventually Americans were tired of buying crap cars and woke up. bud is terrible.
Korea may B full of shady, honorless thiefs, top to bottom, but let’s give them the B of the D!
many American auto execs R criminally stupid.
Hyundai is not junk
08/12, 6:52 PM
posted by:
jinushaun
@shaver: Honour and shame? Thanks for grouping all Asian cultures together. There one important aspect about Asian cultures you failed to mention: power hierarchy. In other words, respect your elders and know your place. And in Korea, the Hyundai and Samsung are more powerful than the govt.
If you knew anything about Korean politics and business, you’d know it’s one of the most corrupt countries in the world. Hyundai and Samsung are more like mafia families than regular corporations.
08/12, 7:49 PM
posted by:
crackerhemi
you can’t teach an old cracker new tricks.
08/13, 3:06 AM
posted by:
westwoodcali
HemiRoadA$$Runner, WHAT A dumA$$$$$$ idiot. The country with the nukes is North Korea. Hyundai is a South Korean Company, genius. And you do know they are two different countries right? Some folks on this board aren’t the sharpest pencils in the toolbox.
08/13, 5:51 PM
posted by:
DeansterTJ
Can’t blame HomoRR for being so stupid; his mother and father are brother and sister.
08/13, 7:18 PM
posted by:
Newton
In his remarks before sentencing, the judge acknowledged that the slush fund was used for political lobbying purposes and that none of the money was embezzled for Chung’s private gain. Chung is already Korea’s richest man.
11/08, 1:26 PM
posted by:
jackjimturkey
Where do I sign up to work for Hyundai?