IONIQ 5 Batik edition marks new era of collaboration between Korea, Indonesia
Indonesian Ambassador to Korea Gandi Sulistiyanto, second from left, poses with Hyundai's IONIQ 5 Batik edition during the Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show, Thursday. Courtesy of Embassy of Indonesia in Korea
By Kwon Mee-yoo
Indonesian Ambassador to Korea Gandi Sulistiyanto unveiled Hyundai's IONIQ 5 Batik edition electronic vehicle (EV), during the Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show, Thursday, signaling a new chapter in the collaboration between Korea's automotive industry and Indonesia's creative economy.
The IONIQ 5 Batik Indonesia, conceived by Ambassador Sulistiyanto, serves as a symbolic bridge connecting Korea and Indonesia, while celebrating the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relationship.
“For Koreans, Hyundai represents a go-to brand when they look for not only safe and comfortable vehicles but also the ones that are environmentally friendly. In 2022, the IONIQ 5 electric car won the World Car Awards. The innovation and technology of electric vehicles will reaffirm our commitment to a sustainable future," Sulistiyanto said during the largest auto show in Indonesia, held at International Convention Exhibition/ICE in BSD City, Tangerang, Indonesia.
Hyundai's IONIQ 5 Batik edition is presented during the Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show at International Convention Exhibition/ICE in BSD City, Tangerang, Indonesia, Thursday. Courtesy of Embassy of Indonesia in Korea
Ambassador Sulistiyanto emphasized the cultural importance of Indonesian “batik,” or traditional textile, linking it to national history, civilization and the economy.
"Indonesian batik to us, Indonesians, is not only a piece of cloth. In 2009, Batik was inscribed on the List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. Batik represents our history and civilization, the technique and motif of batik making is passed from generation to generation," he said.
"In batik-producing areas, such as Pekalongan, the city where I was born, batik as a modality of the creative economy has transformed into a source of livelihood for individuals who work in small and medium enterprises."
His practice of wearing batik as daily official attire since beginning his ambassadorship in Seoul in January 2022 further symbolizes his commitment to promoting this cultural heritage and his dedication to batik diplomacy.
Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto also attended the event to witness the elegant exterior and interior of the IONIQ 5 Batik edition.
Hyundai's IONIQ 5 Batik edition features the kawung motif, inspired by the kawung fruit. Courtesy of Embassy of Indonesia in Korea
The batik motif used in designing Hyundai's flagship EV for the Indonesian market is Kawung, which represents purity and perfection. The Kawung motif is created by arranging four circles in a pattern that resembles the kawung fruit, a type of coconut, resulting in a neatly organized geometric appearance.
The embassy explained that the Korean community in Indonesia is fond of the Kawung motif, as it bears a resemblance to rice grains, symbolizing prosperity, or clover leaves, which are interpreted as signs of good luck, serving as another bridge between Korea and Indonesia. This similarity hints at another cultural bridge between Korea and Indonesia, strengthening their connection and mutual understanding.
According to the embassy, visitors to the auto show demonstrated enthusiasm as they visited the Hyundai booth, closely observing the first EV adorned with an Indonesian batik design by Hyundai.
In commemoration of the five decades of diplomatic relations, the Embassy of Indonesia in Seoul plans to host more events, including Festival Indonesia in Gwanghwamun Square, scheduled for the end of September.