Hyundai refers to a group of companies and related organizations founded by Chung Ju-yung in South Korea. The first Hyundai company was founded in 1947 as a construction company, and the Hyundai Group eventually became South Korea's largest conglomerate company (chaebol).
The best well-known Hyundai organization is the Hyundai Motor Company, the world's 5th largest automaker selling mid sized sedans, coupes and SUVs like the Sonata, Genesis Coupe and the Santa Fe. Hyundai Heavy Industries is the world's largest shipbuilder, and Hynix is a top semiconductor producer. Other companies currently or formerly controlled by members of Chung's extended family may be loosely referred to as a part of the Hyundai chaebol.
The word ç¾ä»£ hyeondae is derived from Chinese and means "modernity" in Korean and other languages with heavy Chinese influence, such as Japanese. It is pronounced [çʌndÉ›], but is often pronounced pronounced /ˈhÊŒndeɪ/ in North America, as /haɪˈʌndaɪ/ in the United Kingdom, as /hiËˈʌndaɪ/ in Australia, and as [çjɯndai] in Japan. Early American advertising for the Hyundai Excel car informed readers that the name "rhymes with Sunday", which is similar to the correct Korean pronunciation.
