Hyundai Group chief back in spotlight

Hyun Jeong-eun may help improve ties with Pyongyang

By Yi Whan-woo

Hyundai Group Chairwoman Hyun Jeong-eun is drawing attention over whether she can help the government make a breakthrough in inter-Korean ties, as she awaits North Korea’s approval to enter the country next month.

Hyun was treated as a “state guest” in North Korea for her efforts to succeed late Hyundai Group founder and her father-in-law Chung Ju-yung as well as his late eldest son and her husband Chung Mong-hun in facilitating inter-Korean economic cooperation, according to the sources, Wednesday.

Hyun plans to visit Mount Geumgang with executives from Hyundai Asan, Hyundai Group’s investment arm in North Korea, to commemorate the 14th anniversary of her husband’s death on Aug. 4.

Under the circumstances, she may convey a government message about resuming cross-border dialogue if the North Korea regime allows her to visit the country, said Paik Hak-soon, a senior researcher at the Sejong Institute.

Despite President Moon Jae-in’s recent peace overture made in Berlin, North Korea has been refusing to accept any dialogue with the South, including military and Red Cross talks.

“Hyun may be able to add to the Moon administration’s steps toward reconciliation,” Paik said.

According to the Ministry of Unification and Hyundai Asan, the company officials contacted the Beijing office of the North’s Asia-Pacific Peace Committee via telephone and e-mail July 21 to find out if the visit to Mount Geumgang was possible.

The committee is a consultation body handling inter-Korean issues under the wing of the United Front Department.

It responded that it will soon confirm whether the visit is approved, according to the unification ministry.

Meanwhile, some analysts speculate that Hyun’s possible visit to North Korea will not contribute to a thaw in inter-Korean ties. They claim that it should be seen as a “special case” only applicable to Hyun and Hyundai Asan.

If realized, this will be the first time since 2015 that the commemoration for Chung will take place at Mount Geumgang, where Hyundai Asan developed a joint tourism project before it was suspended in 2008.

Hyundai Asan held a commemorative ceremony there every year except for 2016 when inter-Korean relations worsened following North Korea’s two nuclear tests a series of ballistic missile tests.

In 2013 and 2014, Kim sent a letter to Hyun through the committee, wishing the best of luck to her and bereaved family members as well as Hyundai Group.

Chung junior killed himself in 2003 amid investigation into suspicions that he secretly passed a large sum of money from the South Korean government to North Korea in spring 2000. The money was believed to be a means to ensure the first inter-Korean summit take place in June 2000.