Baek Byung-yeul is a journalist at The Korea Times focused on cultural content, including films and cultural events in South Korea. You can contact him at baekby@koreatimes.co.kr to share your insights.
Scouts thank Hyundai Motor Group for support as they leave Korea
Slovenian Scouts wave their hands as they leave Kia's education center in Osan, Gyeonggi Province, Saturday. Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group
By Baek Byung-yeul
By Baek Byung-yeul
Scouts who stayed at Hyundai Motor Group's training facilities to escape Typhoon Khanun, which hit the Korean Peninsula last week, expressed their gratitude to the automotive group as they returned home after completing their activities at the World Scout Jamboree, the group said Saturday.
The automotive group offered around 1,000 Scouts from six countries ― the Netherlands, Finland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Slovenia and El Salvador ― four of the group's affiliate training facilities, including Hyundai Motor, Kia and Hyundai Engineering for five days.
Hyundai Motor Group also took great care to introduce the Scouts to traditional and modern Korean culture and the nation's automotive industry, which ranks third globally, by offering a variety of programs during their stay, including learning K-pop dance and experiencing the automotive manufacturing process.
Members who joined the Jamboree expressed their gratitude to the automotive group for its warm hospitality, attentive support and fulfilling programs, the group said.
“The Slovenian Scouts, who stayed at Kia's training center in Osan, Gyeonggi Province, with the Filipino Scouts, said through the group that they were very fortunate to stay there as they had an unforgettable experience over the past few days and that they wanted to stay in touch with each other and remain friends after returning home,” the automotive group said.
Chang Jae-hoon, third from left, CEO of Hyundai Motor, poses with Scouts from the Netherlands and Finland after receiving their scout badges as a thank you for Hyundai Motor Group's support at Hyundai Motor Group's Human Resources Development Center Mabuk Campus in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, Friday. Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group
The El Salvador Scouts presented Hyundai Engineering employees with colorful official T-shirts of their country's scout contingent. Jamboree members from the Netherlands, Finland and Hong Kong collected their scout patches and presented them to the group's employees, including Hyundai Motor CEO Chang Jae-hoon.
In return, the automotive group presented souvenirs such as die-cast model cars and eco-friendly bags to help them cherish their memories of Korea. They also presented various photographs of the entire trip of the team members on USB memory sticks.
Hyundai Motor Group employees and Scouts from the Philippines pose for a photo after receiving traditional Filipino hats as a thank you for the automotive group's support while staying at Kia's education center in Osan, Gyeonggi Province, Thursday. Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group
During their stay, the group offered a special program for the Jamboree participants from August 8 to 12, focusing on Korean culture and the automotive industry in Korea. The culture programs included K-pop dance learning sessions with local YouTube creators and a B-boy performance. They also invited the youth members to Hyundai Motor Studio Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, a car experience facility that explains the whole process of manufacturing automobiles from producing parts to welding, painting the body and conducting safety tests.
“Although it was a short time, it was very rewarding to be with the Jamboree participants from around the world,” a group spokesman said. “We hope that they will keep their interest in Korea and Hyundai Motor Group as well as their precious memories of Korea long after they return home.”