Park Jae-hyuk is a seasoned journalist who has provided comprehensive coverage of South Korea's corporate dynamics, economic policies, industry challenges and the global positioning of Korean companies. Based on the articles he has written since joining The Korea Times in 2016, his investigative approach has helped readers understand corporate governance, economic trends and business strategies shaping South Korea’s economy.
Pope remembered for humble use of Korean cars, tech during papacy
Pope Francis waves inside a Kia Soul compact SUV heading to the Apostolic Nunciature to Korea in Seoul in this August 2014 photo. Yonhap
By Park Jae-hyuk
Hyundai Motor's Spanish CEO mourns pontiff's passing
The death of Pope Francis has drawn attention once again to the humility he showed through his use of various Korean products.
When he came to Korea in 2014 for his first trip to Asia as pontiff, he chose Kia's unarmored Soul compact SUV as the popemobile, reportedly asking the Papal Visit Committee to provide the smallest Korean car available.
Although Kia's Morning was smaller, the government recommended that he ride in the Soul or Avante (Elantra) of Hyundai Motor, Kia's sister carmaker, to ensure comfort in the back seat.
The pope also declined to ride in a luxurious convertible during parades in Seoul and Daejeon. Instead, he opted for Hyundai's Santa Fe and Kia's Carnival, which were remodeled so the faithful could see him in the back seat.
Last year, the pontiff traveled in Singapore with Hyundai's Ioniq 5 produced there. The electric vehicle targets drivers in the city state fighting air pollution.
"As a Catholic myself, I found great inspiration in his leadership and humility," Hyundai Motor CEO Jose Munoz wrote on social media Tuesday, describing the pope as a true servant leader who worked tirelessly for the poor and vulnerable.
"He broke with many traditions in favor of being more inclusive, encouraging more people to join the faithful," the Korean company's Spanish executive added.
Pope Francis is seen through Samsung Electronics' outdoor LED display installed at St. Peter's Square in Vatican City in this 2023 photo. Courtesy of Samsung Electronics
The pope also expressed his gratitude for Samsung Electronics' donation of four outdoor LED displays to the Vatican when he met with Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong of the Korean tech giant at the Apostolic Palace in April last year. In 2023, the Vatican replaced Panasonic's 16-year-old displays with Samsung's products, which feature optimized brightness and contrast ratios for precise imagery.
"We at Samsung Electronics are excited to make our technological contribution and renew our engagement with Vatican City," Davide Corte, head of Samsung Electronics Italy's IT division, who accompanied Lee to the meeting, said after the screens were installed at St. Peter's Square.
At the time, Samsung had not announced its chairman's visit to the Vatican. However, the meeting with the pope was revealed several days later when the Holy See posted photos of the event. Cardinal Lazzaro You Heung-sik reportedly arranged the meeting after the nonreligious Lee visited the Vatican in 2022 to congratulate You on being created a cardinal.
In 2023, Samsung also began supplying the Swiss Guard with mobile devices equipped with its Knox security solution.
Considering the close ties, it remains to be seen whether Lee or other Samsung executives will express condolences, although the company said it does not plan to issue an official statement mourning the pope's death.