Giugiaro honored in Korean ceremony

Giorgetto Giugiaro has received honors from the South Korean Government for his contribution to the nation's fledgling automotive industry. 

In a ceremony in Seoul, Giugiaro received the prestigious 'Order of Merit' from the President of the Republic of Korea, Lee Myung-bak.

The relationship between Italdesign Giugiaro and Korea stretches back to the 1970s, a period of significant growth for the Korean nation, stifled only by its lackluster automotive industry. 

It fell to the Italian designer to invigorate an industry that survived on reassembling and rebranding foreign domestic models. Giugiaro's solution was the simple Hyundai Pony. Launched in 1976, the car amassed sales of over 200,000 within ten years.

The collaboration between Giugiaro and the East extends through to the recent times, resulting in cars such as the Daewoo Matiz as well as SsangYong's Rexton and Korando projects.

The event, taking place on the nation's 48th Trade Day, had significant merit as it marked the country's achievement of reaching one trillion dollars in foreign trade.

By John O'Brien