History of the brand Hankook
The world’s seventh largest car tyre manufacturer, Hankook are also the oldest and largest producer of Korean tyres. Over 50 years since its foundation, Hankook’s bosses still follow the founders’ original motto - “the road must be precisely planned in order to reach full satisfaction.”
The Start Of Hankook Tyres
Although these words may sound like a direct quote from Sun Tzu’s famous work, The Art of War, they reflect the methodical way in which the Korean firm has functioned over the decades.
The company first began in 1941, when the Chosun Tyre industrial company was founded in Seoul. These were turbulent times for both the world and Korea, the latter of which was held under Japanese occupation at the time.
However, in the year before Korea regained its independence, the firm’s first factory in Yeongdeungpo had already began producing its first premier car tyres, under the initial Chosun brand.
A Modern Hankook tyre facility, photo: Hankook
During the first decade, the whole enterprise was gradually built up from scratch, initially starting with machines and later expanding to include new technologies, qualified staff and a professional business strategy.
In the 1950s, the firm was developing at a satisfactory rate, taking advantage of the growing demand from the motor industry. In 1962, Chosen tyres were exported for the ...
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