Hyundai IONIQ 5 to feature batik design for Indonesian market

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

National

Sun, October 1, 2023 | 12:14

Foreign Affairs

Hyundai IONIQ 5 to feature batik design for Indonesian market

Posted : 2023-06-10 08:16

Updated : 2023-06-11 09:56

Indonesian Ambassador to Korea Gandi Sulistiyanto speaks during a media briefing announcing the collaboration between Indonesia's Surakarta City and Hyundai Motor Group to feature Indonesian batik design at Hyundai Motorstudio Goyang in northern Gyeonggi Province, Wednesday. Courtesy of Embassy of Indonesia in Korea

Indonesian ambassador underscores creative collaborations

By Kwon Mee-yoo

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Korea and Indonesia, Hyundai Motor Group's flagship electric vehicle (EV) IONIQ 5 will feature Indonesia's iconic batik design.

Indonesian Ambassador to Korea Gandi Sulistiyanto announced the special collaboration between Hyundai and Surakarta City, also known as Solo, adding an Indonesian flair to the Korean EV.

"The city of Solo is chosen due to its close-knit history of batik development. Batik, the shirt that I am proudly wearing today, is the leading icon of the Indonesian creative industry. Batik reached its golden age in Indonesia, from generation to generation, Indonesians wear batik proudly. Batik is essentially Indonesian," Ambassador Sulistiyanto said during a media briefing at Hyundai Motorstudio Goyang in northern Gyeonggi Province, Wednesday.

"The Indonesian Embassy tries to facilitate collaboration between the Indonesian creative industry with the Korean automotive industry by the inception of this batik signature design by the Hyundai team."

Batik is a traditional Indonesian textile design that involves a wax-resist dyeing process. It is famous for its complex, detailed and symbolic patterns and each region of Indonesia has its unique batik patterns that reflect its particular cultural heritage. In 2019, UNESCO recognized Indonesian batik as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Batik designs can feature a variety of themes such as animals, people, nature, folklore and mythology and, among those, Solo batik carries a deep connection to the traditional Javanese culture.

The city of Surakarta, currently led by Mayor Gibran Rakabuming Raka, son of Indonesian President Joko Widodo, is renowned for its batik industry. The announcement was made during Gibran's visit to Korea.

Indonesian Ambassador to Korea Gandi Sulistiyanto, right, poses with his wife Susi Ardhani Sulistiyanto during their visit to Hyundai Motorstudio Goyang in northern Gyeonggi Province, Wednesday. Courtesy of Embassy of Indonesia in Korea

Sulistiyanto said batik, an iconic symbol of Indonesian culture, is being transformed and introduced to a new domain in collaboration with Korea.

"Batik is well-known as Indonesian, while Korea is well-known for its advanced automotive industry including electric vehicles… This is one of the ideas to promote Indonesian batik to the world. Hyundai is already a popular, well-known EV car producer in the world and I proposed this idea to the Indonesian government and Hyundai Chairman Chung Euisun," he said.

With its established manufacturing facility in the Deltamas industrial complex near Cikarang, Indonesia ― its first in Southeast Asia ― Hyundai is poised to elevate its position further through this distinctive batik collaboration.

While the exact details of the batik design that will be integrated into the IONIQ have yet to be revealed, the ambassador gave a hint about its first public appearance.

"The electric vehicle's prototype bearing batik design will be displayed for the very first time in an auto show later this year," he said, adding that this special design will go into a limited production run, primarily catering to customers in Indonesia.

"I hope this design also will become popular in my country although in the beginning we will just produce a limited edition only. But if in the future it will be accepted in the market, Hyundai might consider to bring it to mass production," the ambassador said.

Sulistiyanto added that he is in conversations with Indonesian producers about potential collaborations in the K-pop and K-drama industries.

"We plan to produce a joint production with a Korean drama producer about a story that is relatable to both Indonesian and Korean audiences. Regarding K-pop, there are some K-pop stars from Indonesia like Dita Karang and Zayyan. They are already quite popular here and will be promoted in Indonesia soon as well," he said.

meeyoo@koreatimes.co.kr