Chung Mong-Koo Net Worth 2026

Chung Mong-koo
Chung Mong-koo
	Chung Mong-koo in 2015
Born	19 March 1938 (age 87); Tsūsen-gun, Korea, Empire of Japan
Education	Hanyang University
Alma mater	Hanyang University (B.S.)
Occupation	Business magnate
Title	Honorary Chairman of Hyundai Motor Group
Spouse	Lee Jung-Hwa (Deceased)
Children	4
Awards	Van Fleet Award (2009)
Korean name
Hangul	정몽구
Hanja	鄭夢九
RR	Jeong Monggu
MR	Chŏng Monggu

Chung Mong-koo (Korean: 정몽구; born 19 March 1938, in Kangwon Province) is a South Korean business magnate. He is the honorary chairman and former CEO of Hyundai Motor Group, Korea's second largest chaebol that manages 54 subsidiaries including Hyundai Motor, Kia Motors, and Hyundai Steel. He started his career in 1970, joining the engineering & construction division of the group. Chung succeeded his father, Chung Ju-yung, the founder of the conglomerate known as the Hyundai Group. When the conglomerate split into several parts in 1999, Chung Mong-koo took over the Hyundai Motor division. He is the eldest surviving son of Chung Ju-yung's eight sons.

He is among the richest people in South Korea. In December 2024, Forbes estimated his net wealth at US$4 billion and ranked him 5th richest person in the country.^[1]

He was convicted of embezzlement and breach of fiduciary duty in February 2007,^[2] but was given a suspended sentence and was fully pardoned by President Lee Myung-bak.^[3]

Education

Graduated, Kyungbock High School
Bachelor of Science in industrial engineering, Hanyang University

Professional experience

2020–present: Honorary Chairman of Hyundai Motor Co. & Kia Motors Corp.
2000–2020: Chairman & CEO of Hyundai Motor Co. & Kia Motors Corp.
1996–1998: Chairman of Hyundai Group
1987–1998: CEO, Hyundai Motor Service
1986: CEO, Incheon Iron & Steel
1981: CEO, Hyundai Pipe
1977: CEO, Hyundai Precision & Industry
1970: started his career by joining Hyundai Engineering & Construction

He also owns INNOCEAN Worldwide, an ad & marketing agency, with his eldest daughter Chung Sung-yi.^[4]

Management

Chung is described as a "vigorous septuagenarian" who comes to work at 6:30 a.m. and "personally heads monthly quality reviews with senior executives".^[5]

Although he only holds 5.2% of Hyundai Motor's stock, Chung "wields disproportionately strong control" and is able to control its board thanks to a complex corporate governance arrangements in which Hyundai Motor owns 34% of Kia, which owns 16.9% of Mobis, which in turn owns 20.8% of Hyundai Motor. This means that "because the companies essentially control each other, no outside shareholder is strong enough to name board members".^[5]

Controversies

2007 embezzlement conviction

In 2006, he and his family were targeted by the Seoul Supreme Prosecutor's Office as part of an investigation into embezzling 100 billion won ($106 million) from Hyundai to create slush funds to bribe officials.^[6] Despite a travel ban, Chung left South Korea in April 2006. Chung was arrested on 28 April 2006 on charges related to embezzlement and other corruption.^[7]^[8]

On 5 February 2007 he was convicted of embezzlement and breach of fiduciary duty for selling securities to his son Chung Eui-sun at below-market prices. He was sentenced to three years in prison.^[2] Chung remained free on bail while he appealed the sentence.^[9] On September 6, 2007, Chief Judge Lee Jae-hong ruled to suspend the sentence of Chung Mong-koo (in consideration of the huge economic impact of imprisonment), ordering instead of a 3-year jail term, community service and a $1 billion^{[citation needed]}^[10] donation to charity.^[3]

The trial was seen as "a victory for transparency and rule of law in South Korea",^[11] but on August 15, 2008, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak granted him a special pardon to allow Chung to continue to contribute to the development of Hyundai Motor Group as well as the Korean economy.^[12]

Nepotism

His only son Chung Eui-sun is his "heir apparent", despite his relatively unproven business and leadership skills. According to Bloomberg, "no one can assess how Eui Sun will perform when he becomes chairman because his father keeps him on a tight leash".^[5]

Furthermore, in 2011, he was accused of nepotism^[5] when Ozen, a bakery cafe whose advisors included his three daughters Sung-yi, Myung-yi, and Yun-yi, set up shop in company buildings.^[13] Ozen eventually closed in 2012.^[14]

Awards and honors

2020: Automotive Hall of Fame
2009: James A. Van Fleet Award, The Korea Society
2008–present: Honorary Chairman of the Organizing Committee for the Expo 2012 in Yeosu
2004: Inchon Award
2001: Awarded Distinguished Service Citation by Detroit's Automotive Hall of Fame
1997–present: Honorary Vice President of World Archery Federation
1986–1997: Chairman of Asia Archery Association
1985–1997: Chairman of Korea Archery Association

Family

Chung family tree

Han Seong-sil
한성실
?

Chung Bong-sik
정봉식
?

Yung

Byun Joong-seok [ko]
변중석
1921–2007

Chung Ju-yung
정주영
1915–2001

Kim Kyung-hee
김경희
1953–

Park Byeong-im
박병임
1928–2015

Chung Soon-yung [ko]
정순영
1922–2005

Park Young-ja
박영자
1936–

Chung Se-yung
정세영
1928–2005

Jo Eun-ju
조은주
1936–

Chung Sang-yung [ko]
정상영
1936–2021

(영)

^[a]

Kim Wol-gye
김월계
1923–2003

Chung In-yung [ko]
정인영
1920–2006

Chung Hee-yung
정희영
1925–2015

Kim Young-joo
김영주
1920–2010

Jang Jeong-ja
장정자
1935–

Chung Shin-yung
정신영
1931–62

Chung Mong-pil [ko]^[b]
정몽필
1934–82

Chung Chung-in (Grace)
정정인
1979–

Chung Chung-im (Elizabeth)
정정임
1981–

Chung Hyeong-suk
정형숙
1951–74

Chung Moon-sook
정문숙
1947–

Kim Yun-su
김윤수
1946–

Chung Sook-young^[c]
정숙영
1960–

Chung Il-kyung
정일경
1960–

Chung Mong-hyuk
정몽혁
1961–

Mong

Chung Mong-koo^[d]
정몽구
1938–

Chung Mong-woo [ko]^[e]
정몽우
1945–90

Chung Mong-yoon [ko]^[f]
정몽윤
1955–

Chung Mong-guk^[g]
정몽국
1953–

Chung Mong-sun
정몽선
1954–

Kim Geun-su
김근수
1948–

Chung Mong-jin
정몽진
1960–

Chung Mong-yeol
정몽열
1964–

(몽)

^[h]

Chung Mong-kun [ko]^[i]
정몽근
1942–

Chung Mong-hun^[j]
정몽헌
1948–2003

Chung Mong-il [ko]^[k]
정몽일
1959–

Chung Mong-won^[l]
정몽원
1955–

Chung Mong-hoon
정몽훈
1959–

Chung Chung-suk
정정숙
1962–

Chung Mong-ik
정몽익
1962–

Chung Kyung-hee^[m]
정경희
1944–

Chung Mong-joon^[n]
정몽준
1951–

Chung Mong-seok
정몽석
1958–

Chung Mong-yong
정몽용
1961–

Chung Mong-gyu^[o]
정몽규
1962–

Chung Yoo-kyung
정유경
1970–

Chung Ji-yi
정지이
1977–

Chung Young-yi
정영이
1984–

Chung Young-seon
정영선
1985–

Chung Hyeon-seon
정현선
1989–

Chung Mun-yi
정문이
1991–

Chung Il-seon [ko]
정일선
1970–

Chung Moon-seon
정문선
1974–

Chung Dae-seon [ko]^[p]
정대선
1977–

Chung Chung-yi
정정이
1984–

Chung Kyung-seon
정경선
1986–

Seon

(선)

Chung Ji-seon [ko]
정지선
1972–

Chung Gyo-seon
정교선
1974–

Chung Kisun
정기선
1982–

Chung Nam-yi
정남이
1983–

Chung Seon-yi
정선이
1986–

Chung Ye-seon
정예선
1996–

^[q]

Chung Eun-hee
정은희
1971–

Chung Yu-hee
정유희
1973–

Chung Seong-yi^[r]
정성이
1962–

Chung Myeong-yi^[s]
정명이
1964–

Chung Yoon-yi^[t]
정윤이
1968–

Chung Eui-seon^[u]
정의선
1970–

Chung Sanghyeon
정상현
2007–

Seon A-yeong^[v]
선아영
1987–

Seon Tong-uk^[w]
선동욱
1989–

Sin U-jin
신우진
1993–

Sin U-hyeon
신우현
2004–

N/A

Chung Yun-hwi
정상현
2013–

Chung Yu-mi
정유미
1988–

Chung Yu-jin
정유진
1990–

Chung Jun^[x]
정준
1997–

Sin U-taek
신우택
1996–

Chung Jin-hui
정진희
1996–

Chung Chang-cheol
정장철
1998–

Notes
In general: marriages indicated by dashed lines, female on the left.

^ Given name terminates in -yung (영) for males and females in this generation
^ Married to Lee Yang-ja (이양자; 1943–90)
^ Married to Prof. Noh Kyung-soo [ko] (노경수; 1954–)
^ Married to Lee Jung-hwa (이정화; 1939–2009)
^ Married to Lee Haeng-ja (이행자; 1945–)
^ Married to Kim Hye-young (김혜영; 1961–)
^ Married to Lee Yoon-hee (이윤희; 1954–)
^ Given name starts with Mong- (몽) for males in this generation. Female given names often start with Chung- (정), but not always.
^ Married to Woo Kyung-sook (우경숙; 1951–)
^ Married to Hyun Jeong-eun (현정은; 1955–)
^ Married to Kwon Jun-hee (권준희; 1961–)
^ Married to Hong In-hwa (홍인화; 1957–)
^ Married to Jung Hee-young (정희영; 1940–)
^ Married to Kim Young-myeong (김영명; 1956–)
^ Married to Kim Na-young (김나영)
^ Married to news anchor Noh Hyeon-jeong [ko] (노현정, 1979–)
^ Given name terminates in -seon (선) for males in this generation. Female given names usually terminate in -yi (이), but not always.
^ Married to Daejeon Sun Hospital chief director Seon Du-hun (선두훈, 1957–)
^ Married to Hyundai Card vice chairman Chung Tae-yeong (정태영, 1960–)
^ Formerly married to Samwoo vice-chairman Sin Seong-jae (신성재, 1968–)
^ Married to Chung Do-won's daughter Chung Ji-seon (정지선, 1970–)
^ Married to Gil Yong-wu's son Gil Seong-Jin (길성진, 1984–)
^ Married to Chae Hyeong-seok's daughter Chae Su-yeon (채수연, 1990–)
^ Married to professional golfer Lydia Ko (리디아 고, 1997–)

Sources

김봄내 (May 15, 2015). "[재벌가족사]정주영 현대그룹 창업주" [Chaebol Family History: Chung Ju-yung, founder of Hyundai Group]. KJtimes (in Korean).
김태현 (March 23, 2015). "[단독보도] 정주영 막내딸 미국서 엄마 없이 결혼" [Exclusive: Chung Ju-yung's youngest daughter gets married without her mother in the United States]. 일요신문 (in Korean).
"Family Drama". Forbes. April 26, 2011.

References

^ "Mong-Koo Chung". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-12-23.
^ ^a ^b Seonjin Cha (5 February 2007). "Hyundai Motor's Chung Found Guilty of Embezzlement". Bloomberg.
^ ^a ^b "Guilty Hyundai boss escapes jail". BBC News. 6 September 2007.
^ David Kiley (April 25, 2011). "Innocean Strives to Be Known as More Than Hyundai Agency". AdAge.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d John Lippert; Alan Ohnsman; Rose Kim (March 1, 2012). "Billionaire Chung Proving Hyundai No Joke Aiming for BMW". Bloomberg Business.
^ Kim Jong-moon, Chun Su-jin (28 March 2006). "Hyundai case widens with official's arrest". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on 4 November 2006. Retrieved 28 April 2006.
^ Olson, Kelly (28 April 2006). "Hyundai Chairman Chung Mong-Koo Arrested". Associated Press.
^ Sang-Hun, Choe (28 April 2006). "South Korea Arrests Head of Hyundai Motor". The New York Times.
^ Cheon Jong-woo (5 February 2007). "Hyundai Motor chairman sentenced to 3 yrs in jail". Reuters. Archived from the original on 10 March 2007.
^ Jong-woo, Cheon (6 September 2007). "Hyundai chief given suspended sentence". REUTERS. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
^ Ishaan Tharoor (August 10, 2010). "Top 10 CEO Scandals: Chung Mong Koo, Hyundai Motor". Time magazine.
^ Jin Hyun-joo (March 30, 2010). "Amnesty clears the way for Lee's comeback to Samsung top job". The Korea Herald.
^ "Conglomerate offspring compete in rising bakery cafe sector". The Dong-A Ilbo. November 2, 2011.
^ Kim Su-heon (October 13, 2012). "Big bakeries roll on despite absence of chaebol daughters". Hankyoreh.

External links

Media related to Chung Mong-Koo at Wikimedia Commons

[rdp-we-cite_note-15] Given name terminates in -yung (영) for males and females in this generation

[rdp-we-cite_note-16] Married to Lee Yang-ja (이양자; 1943–90)

[rdp-we-cite_note-17] Married to Prof. Noh Kyung-soo [ko] (노경수; 1954–)

[rdp-we-cite_note-18] Married to Lee Jung-hwa (이정화; 1939–2009)

[rdp-we-cite_note-19] Married to Lee Haeng-ja (이행자; 1945–)

[rdp-we-cite_note-20] Married to Kim Hye-young (김혜영; 1961–)

[rdp-we-cite_note-21] Married to Lee Yoon-hee (이윤희; 1954–)

[rdp-we-cite_note-22] Given name starts with Mong- (몽) for males in this generation. Female given names often start with Chung- (정), but not always.

[rdp-we-cite_note-23] Married to Woo Kyung-sook (우경숙; 1951–)

[rdp-we-cite_note-24] Married to Hyun Jeong-eun (현정은; 1955–)

[rdp-we-cite_note-25] Married to Kwon Jun-hee (권준희; 1961–)

[rdp-we-cite_note-26] Married to Hong In-hwa (홍인화; 1957–)

[rdp-we-cite_note-27] Married to Jung Hee-young (정희영; 1940–)

[rdp-we-cite_note-28] Married to Kim Young-myeong (김영명; 1956–)

[rdp-we-cite_note-29] Married to Kim Na-young (김나영)

[rdp-we-cite_note-30] Married to news anchor Noh Hyeon-jeong [ko] (노현정, 1979–)

[rdp-we-cite_note-31] Given name terminates in -seon (선) for males in this generation. Female given names usually terminate in -yi (이), but not always.

[rdp-we-cite_note-32] Married to Daejeon Sun Hospital chief director Seon Du-hun (선두훈, 1957–)

[rdp-we-cite_note-33] Married to Hyundai Card vice chairman Chung Tae-yeong (정태영, 1960–)

[rdp-we-cite_note-34] Formerly married to Samwoo vice-chairman Sin Seong-jae (신성재, 1968–)

[rdp-we-cite_note-35] Married to Chung Do-won's daughter Chung Ji-seon (정지선, 1970–)

[rdp-we-cite_note-36] Married to Gil Yong-wu's son Gil Seong-Jin (길성진, 1984–)

[rdp-we-cite_note-37] Married to Chae Hyeong-seok's daughter Chae Su-yeon (채수연, 1990–)

[rdp-we-cite_note-38] Married to professional golfer Lydia Ko (리디아 고, 1997–)

[rdp-we-cite_note-1] "Mong-Koo Chung". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-12-23.

[rdp-we-cite_note-bloomberg_found_guilty-2] Seonjin Cha (5 February 2007). "Hyundai Motor's Chung Found Guilty of Embezzlement". Bloomberg.

[rdp-we-cite_note-bbc-3] "Guilty Hyundai boss escapes jail". BBC News. 6 September 2007.

[rdp-we-cite_note-4] David Kiley (April 25, 2011). "Innocean Strives to Be Known as More Than Hyundai Agency". AdAge.

[rdp-we-cite_note-bloom-5] John Lippert; Alan Ohnsman; Rose Kim (March 1, 2012). "Billionaire Chung Proving Hyundai No Joke Aiming for BMW". Bloomberg Business.

[rdp-we-cite_note-6] Kim Jong-moon, Chun Su-jin (28 March 2006). "Hyundai case widens with official's arrest". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on 4 November 2006. Retrieved 28 April 2006.

[rdp-we-cite_note-7] Olson, Kelly (28 April 2006). "Hyundai Chairman Chung Mong-Koo Arrested". Associated Press.

[rdp-we-cite_note-8] Sang-Hun, Choe (28 April 2006). "South Korea Arrests Head of Hyundai Motor". The New York Times.

[rdp-we-cite_note-9] Cheon Jong-woo (5 February 2007). "Hyundai Motor chairman sentenced to 3 yrs in jail". Reuters. Archived from the original on 10 March 2007.

[rdp-we-cite_note-10] Jong-woo, Cheon (6 September 2007). "Hyundai chief given suspended sentence". REUTERS. Retrieved 6 September 2023.

[rdp-we-cite_note-11] Ishaan Tharoor (August 10, 2010). "Top 10 CEO Scandals: Chung Mong Koo, Hyundai Motor". Time magazine.

[rdp-we-cite_note-12] Jin Hyun-joo (March 30, 2010). "Amnesty clears the way for Lee's comeback to Samsung top job". The Korea Herald.

[rdp-we-cite_note-13] "Conglomerate offspring compete in rising bakery cafe sector". The Dong-A Ilbo. November 2, 2011.

[rdp-we-cite_note-14] Kim Su-heon (October 13, 2012). "Big bakeries roll on despite absence of chaebol daughters". Hankyoreh.

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Real Name	Chung Mong-koo
Net Worth 2026	$4.7 billion USD
Birthday (Year-Month-Day)	1938-3-19
Nationality	South Korea
Occupation	Businessman
Height	m or 0 ft 0 inches
Weight	kg or 0 pounds
Marital Status	Married (Lee Jung-Hwa)
Ethnicity	Korean
Education	Hanyang University
Kids	4
Kids Names	Chung Eui-sun, Chung Sung-yi, Chung Myung-yi, Chung Yun-yi

Chung Mong-Koo Net Worth 2026

Education

Professional experience

Management

Controversies

2007 embezzlement conviction

Nepotism

Awards and honors

Family

See also

References

External links

Fact Sheet

FAQ

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Chung Mong-koo
Chung Mong-koo in 2015
Born	(1938-03-19) 19 March 1938 (age 87) Tsūsen-gun, Korea, Empire of Japan
Education	Hanyang University
Alma mater	Hanyang University (B.S.)
Occupation	Business magnate
Title	Honorary Chairman of Hyundai Motor Group
Spouse	Lee Jung-Hwa (Deceased)
Children	4
Awards	Van Fleet Award (2009)

Korean name
Hangul	정몽구
Hanja	鄭夢九
RR	Jeong Monggu
MR	Chŏng Monggu

Education

Professional experience

Management

Controversies

2007 embezzlement conviction

Nepotism

Awards and honors

Family

See also

References

External links

Fact Sheet

FAQ

What is Chung Mong-Koo net worth 2026?

How rich is Chung Mong-Koo?

How wealthy is Chung Mong-Koo?

How much money does Chung Mong-Koo have?

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