By Jane Han
Staff Reporter
Lee Chung-hwa, wife of Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group Chairman Chung Mong-koo, passed away Monday after losing a battle against cancer. She was 71.
Lee was flown to the U.S. for cancer treatment during the Chuseok holidays after her condition worsened. But she died with her husband, two daughters and son by her side, according to company officials.
Having been married to the business tycoon for 40 years, Lee was known to be a soft-spoken woman with inner toughness.
She spent most of her married life looking after the household affairs of the Chung family, especially after Hyundai founder Chung Ju-yung’s eldest daughter-in-law died in 1991.
A graduate of Sookmyug Girls High School, Lee met her husband at a young age. She rarely made public appearances until she became a major shareholder in Hyundai’s Haevichi Resort in 2003 with a 16-percent stake in the Jeju facility.
Most recently, Lee attended Kia Motors’ new car launch ceremony, when her only son Chung Eui-sun, who was Kia Motors vice chairman, expressed his love and gratitude to his mother during a speech.
Lee’s body will be flown back to Seoul. A funeral ceremony will be held at Asan Medical Center later this week.