Chung Mong Joon
Encyclopedia
Chung Mong-joon, or Chung Mong-joon or Chung Mong Joon, ' onMouseout='HidePop("37679")' href="/topics/Busan">Busan
, South Korea
) is a South Korean businessman and politician. He is honorary vice president of FIFA
and the former president of the Korea Football Association
. He is also the controlling shareholder in Hyundai Heavy Industries Group
, the second largest Korean chaebol
and one of the largest corporations in the world. He is the sixth son of the Hyundai conglomerate founder, Chung Ju-yung
. Chung is a graduate of Seoul National University
, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
, and Johns Hopkins University
with Ph.D. He is also the chairman of the board of the University of Ulsan and Ulsan College in Ulsan
South Korea
He is also a member of the National Assembly of Korea
, representing Ulsan
. In 1998, Chung won a seat in the National Assembly of South Korea
and is now in his fifth term in office. In 2002, he ran for the presidency
, where Chung formed a coalition with candidate Roh Moo-hyun
to swing voters away from conservative Grand National Party
candidate Lee Hoi-chang
. Chung controversially withdrew his endorsement of Roh in the last hour; but Roh went on to win the election nonetheless. In September 2010, he announced his intent to run for the presidency in December.
A talented sportsman, Chung won a silver medal in a national competition for equestrian
jumping in 1976, and once placed fourth in a Korean cross-country skiing
championship.
Busan
Busan , formerly spelled Pusan is South Korea's second largest metropolis after Seoul, with a population of around 3.6 million. The Metropolitan area population is 4,399,515 as of 2010. It is the largest port city in South Korea and the fifth largest port in the world...
, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
) is a South Korean businessman and politician. He is honorary vice president of FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
and the former president of the Korea Football Association
Korea Football Association
The Korea Football Association is the governing body of football in Korea. The first governing body of Korean football was the Joseon Football Association , founded on 19 September 1933....
. He is also the controlling shareholder in Hyundai Heavy Industries Group
Hyundai Heavy Industries Group
The Hyundai Heavy Industries Group refers to the group of affiliated companies interconnected by complex shareholding arrangements, with Hyundai Heavy Industries regarded as de facto representative of the Group.- Subsidiaries :* Hyundai Heavy Industries...
, the second largest Korean chaebol
Chaebol
Chaebol refers to a South Korean form of business conglomerate. They are global multinationals owning numerous international enterprises. The term is often used in a context similar to that of the English word "conglomerate"...
and one of the largest corporations in the world. He is the sixth son of the Hyundai conglomerate founder, Chung Ju-yung
Chung Ju-yung
Chung Ju-yung was a South Korean businessman and the the founder of Hyundai Group.-Early life:Chung Ju-yung was born in Tongchon, Kangwŏn province , during a time when Korea was under Japanese rule. Born to a large impoverished family of peasants, he was the oldest out of six children...
. Chung is a graduate of Seoul National University
Seoul National University
Seoul National University , colloquially known in Korean as Seoul-dae , is a national research university in Seoul, Korea, ranked 24th in the world in publications in an analysis of data from the Science Citation Index, 7th in Asia and 42nd in the world by the 2011 QS World University Rankings...
, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
, and Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
with Ph.D. He is also the chairman of the board of the University of Ulsan and Ulsan College in Ulsan
Ulsan
Ulsan , officially the Ulsan Metropolitan City, is South Korea's seventh largest metropolis with a population of over 1.1 million. It is located in the south-east of the country, neighboring Busan to the south and facing Gyeongju to the north and the Sea of Japan to the east.Ulsan is the...
South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
He is also a member of the National Assembly of Korea
National Assembly of South Korea
The National Assembly of the Republic of Korea is a 299-member unicameral legislature. The latest general elections were held on April 9, 2008. Single-member constituencies comprise 245 of the National Assembly's seats, while the remaining 54 are allocated by proportional representation...
, representing Ulsan
Ulsan
Ulsan , officially the Ulsan Metropolitan City, is South Korea's seventh largest metropolis with a population of over 1.1 million. It is located in the south-east of the country, neighboring Busan to the south and facing Gyeongju to the north and the Sea of Japan to the east.Ulsan is the...
. In 1998, Chung won a seat in the National Assembly of South Korea
National Assembly of South Korea
The National Assembly of the Republic of Korea is a 299-member unicameral legislature. The latest general elections were held on April 9, 2008. Single-member constituencies comprise 245 of the National Assembly's seats, while the remaining 54 are allocated by proportional representation...
and is now in his fifth term in office. In 2002, he ran for the presidency
President of South Korea
The President of the Republic of Korea is, according to the Constitution of the Republic of Korea, chief executive of the government, commander-in-chief of the armed forces, and the head of state of the Republic of Korea...
, where Chung formed a coalition with candidate Roh Moo-hyun
Roh Moo-hyun
Roh Moo-hyun GOM GCB was the 16th President of South Korea .Roh's pre-presidential political career was focused on human rights advocacy for student activists in South Korea. His electoral career later expanded to a focus on overcoming regionalism in South Korean politics, culminating in his...
to swing voters away from conservative Grand National Party
Grand National Party
The Grand National Party is a conservative political party in South Korea. Its Korean name, Hannara, has a double meaning as "Great National" and "Korean National." The GNP holds a majority of seats in the 18th Assembly, lasting from 2008 to 2012....
candidate Lee Hoi-chang
Lee Hoi-chang
Lee Hoi-chang is a South Korean politician. A Catholic, he was born to an elite family in Seoheung, Hwanghae , but grew up in the south after his father, a public prosecutor, was appointed to a new post....
. Chung controversially withdrew his endorsement of Roh in the last hour; but Roh went on to win the election nonetheless. In September 2010, he announced his intent to run for the presidency in December.
A talented sportsman, Chung won a silver medal in a national competition for equestrian
Equestrianism
Equestrianism more often known as riding, horseback riding or horse riding refers to the skill of riding, driving, or vaulting with horses...
jumping in 1976, and once placed fourth in a Korean cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles...
championship.