<.p>Hyundai Motor has honored a 79-year-old South Korean driver named Choi Young-du after he retired his blue Porter truck following 29 years of service and 448,000 kilometers of driving, according to reports by the South Korean newspaper The Hankyoreh.
A Farewell Letter on a Windshield
The story gained public attention when photos circulated on online communities showing a handwritten note taped to the front windshield of Choi’s truck under the title “Farewell Driving.” According to The Hankyoreh, Choi purchased the vehicle in October 1997. In the letter, Choi thanked the truck for enduring the economic turmoil of the IMF crisis and quietly carrying his hardships, which allowed him to raise and educate two children.
“That all this joy was possible is thanks to you. Truly thank you, and thank you so much for running accident-free,” Choi wrote in the letter, according to The Hankyoreh. “Time has flown, and I am truly sorry that I could not keep our promise to always be together to the end. But your breath and devotion I will cherish forever.”
Hyundai’s Corporate Response
After the handwritten note went viral on social media and online forums, Hyundai Motor’s official Instagram account left a comment on December 2 stating that the company wanted to reach out to the owner. On December 8, the company successfully contacted Choi, according to The Hankyoreh.
On December 18, Hyundai published a letter on its social media channels written by Yoon Hyo-jun, head of Hyundai Motor’s Domestic Business Division and executive vice president, addressed to Choi. According to The Hankyoreh, Yoon wrote that the company’s executives and employees felt their hearts sink upon reading the warm letter and learning the truck’s history.
“The traces of the passage of time left on the driver’s seat of the Porter, which came running through dawn paths whether it rained or snowed, allowed us to vividly feel the sublime life of a father of this era who solidly protected a family,” Yoon stated in the letter, as reported by The Hankyoreh.
The Porter as a Symbol of Livelihood
Yoon added that the Porter functions as more than just an automobile for the manufacturer. According to The Hankyoreh, Yoon described the truck as a reliable foundation supporting the lives of numerous heads of households and a companion through life’s journey.
“The hand-written letter you left on the Porter serves as an answer to ‘why we build cars’ and will remain in our hearts for a long time,” Yoon wrote, according to The Hankyoreh.
Alongside the letter, Hyundai presented Choi with a commemorative plaque featuring an image of him sitting in the driver’s seat holding the steering wheel and gear shift, as reported by The Hankyoreh.
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