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Hyundai last week opened an automobile manufacturing plant in Montgomery, AL. This is a big step for the company in trying to increase it’s market share in the United States.
The plant will be responsible for making both the Hyundai Sonata car and the Santa Fe SUV. The plant will also provide 6,000 high paying jobs and many other secondary jobs providing services for the plant. The plant has even taken a policy to provide locals with the first jobs at the plant. Needless to say that Hyundai is now very popular in the Deep South.
I have to thank one of my commenters for providing this link to the local WSFA Channel 12 website in Montgomery. The news channel actually has a really good webpage that features many news video segments about the opening of the Hyundai plant and the news channel even sent a reporter to Korea to provide a news segments about Korean culture and traditions. He found out though that the only thing Koreans know about Alabama is the song “Oh Susanna”. If Korea wants to improve its image in America, this is a good way to do it. Images of Hyundai creating jobs for Alabamans will do more for Korea’s image in America then people continuously seeing protestors burn the Stars and Stripes and Kim Jong Il’s puffy hair doo.
Alabama and Korea have got to be two of the most culturally different places in the world but it appears this partnership is working out. The effect the plant is having in this southern city is really phenominal. By viewing the numerous video segments you will see that the city has now offered MBC as part of their cable program, more Korean restaurants and businesses are opening up, local news webpages are being translated into Korean, locals want to buy Hyundais, and even former President George H.W. Bush has gotten into the act by saying God Bless Korea at the Grand Opening ceremony for the plant.
The Grand Opening of the plant was quite elaborate and featured many Alabama and Korean politicians. The Grand Opening also had a musical performance by the Electric Cookie Trio which is three Korean ajummas with keyboards and electric violins. Yes, that’s right electric violins. I have never heard of one before either. Anyway it was an interesting blend of music, but when they started playing “Oh Susanna”; I just wanted to cover my ears. Their rendition of Arirang wasn’t to bad, though I prefer a more traditional playing of the classic Korean song.
Hopefully this venture works out for both Hyundai and Alabama. Good to see something positive happening between America and Korea. Sure beats talking about nukes and anti-Americanism.
It is the sad reality. No mistake...
8:03 am on January 6th, 2007 1
I was surprised to read this article below, and the general lack of fear and concern in Korea over possible job losses to overseas plants.
http://www.wsfa.com/Global/story.asp?S=2550704
If this was in North America, they'd be moaning and groaning "we're losing jobs to foreign plants".
8:03 am on January 6th, 2007 2
One more thing, how does the company make any money when they have so much legacy costs like free housing, free college tuition, free clothing, free food, free everything for their 50,000 Hyundai employees? We've heard of GM's crippling legacy costs in health care that contriubtes to hurting their competitiveness, but this sounds ridiculous.
8:04 am on January 6th, 2007 3
In Korea the opening of this plant in the United States is something they take some pride in. Who would of ever thought 50 years ago the Koreans would be opening a manufacturing plant in the United States?
8:04 am on January 6th, 2007 4
It does sound like Hyundai definitely has some amazing benefits but with the way they own so much in Korea from automobiles, apartments, tanks, to toilet seats, the benefits are probably just a drop in the bucket to them.
8:05 am on January 6th, 2007 5
This is a great move for Hyundai. The deep South is an ideal place since the region doesn't have much history of labor unions — unlike the rust-belt regions in America (or even Korea for that matter). Apparently Hyundai had to steal few skilled employees from the "Big-Three" manufacturers since few Alabamians have auto manufacturing experiences. With all the textile plants shutting down as result of competition from China, the Hyundai plant is a Godsend for people of Alabama. The average assembly workman will start at about $14 an hour depending on experience, and move up to $25 after couple of years. Benefits are same or bettern than most companies in U.S., but all the perks that Korean employees get probably won't happen in Montgomery. I hear that Hyundai employees in Korea get free lunch. Is this true?
8:06 am on January 6th, 2007 6
That is true, Hyundai employees do get free lunch in Korea among other benefits.