Chung Mong-Joon
Manufacturing

Chung Mong-Joon Net Worth

Chung Mong-Joon is a South Korean businessman and politician who was born in Seoul in 1951. He is the sixth son of the late Chung Ju-Yung, who founded the Hyundai Heavy Industries conglomerate. Chung is the biggest individual shareholder in Hyundai Heavy Industries and served seven terms in the National Assembly before resigning in 2014 to run for mayor of Seoul. He was also a vice president of FIFA and was suspended in 2015 for violating several rules. Chung is an accomplished athlete, having won a silver medal in equestrian jumping in 1976 and a fourth-place finish in a Korean cross-country skiing championship. His brother Chung Mong-Koo is the head of Hyundai Motor.
Chung Mong-Joon is a member of Manufacturing

Age, Biography and Wiki

Who is it? Hyundai Heavy Industries
Birth Day October 17, 1951
Birth Place Seoul, South Korea, South Korea
Age 72 YEARS OLD
Birth Sign Scorpio
Preceded by New constituency
Succeeded by Ahn Hyo-dae
Constituency Dong (Ulsan)
Political party Saenuri (until 2016) Independent (since 2016)
Spouse(s) Kim Young-Myeong
Children 4(2 sons, 2 daughters)
Alma mater Seoul National University (B.A.) MIT Sloan School of Management (M.B.A.) Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (Ph.D.)
Occupation Politician; Business Magnate; Vice President of FIFA
Hangul 정몽준
Hanja 鄭夢準
Revised Romanization Jeong Mongjun
McCune–Reischauer Chŏng Mongjun

💰 Net worth: $1.2 Billion (2024)

Chung Mong-Joon, the prominent South Korean businessman, is widely recognized for his association with Hyundai Heavy Industries. With a net worth estimated to be around $1.2 billion in 2024, Chung has achieved considerable success in his career. As a leading figure in the Hyundai conglomerate, Chung has contributed significantly to the growth and expansion of the Hyundai Heavy Industries, a conglomerate known for its global presence in various sectors such as shipbuilding, construction, and energy. With his business acumen and commitment to excellence, Chung Mong-Joon has emerged as a prominent figure in the South Korean business landscape.

2009 $1.3 Billion
2010 $1.6 Billion
2011 $3.2 Billion
2012 $2.5 Billion
2013 $1.9 Billion
2014 $1.7 Billion
2015 $1.15 Billion
2017 $1.1 Billion
2018 $1.81 Billion

Biography/Timeline

1988

Chung became a Politician when he was elected as an assembly man in 1988 and served consecutive 7 terms in two different electoral districts. Initially he was elected in Dong District, Ulsan where predominant share of its population consisted of Hyundai heavy Industries Group's employees, its affiliated companies' employees, and their families. Most of other population in Dong District run businesses related with serving those workers and their families. Chung served as a representative of this particular district for 20 years. He joined Grand National Party in 2007 shortly before 2007 South Korean presidential election, declaring his support to that party's presidential candidate Lee Myung-bak. As a member of Grand National Party, he switched his electoral district to Dongjak District, Seoul, and represented there as an assembly man for 2 terms until 2014 when he had to give up that seat to run for mayor of Seoul, but the election was lost to Park Won-soon leaving no political titles for Chung after. Grand National Party changed its name to Saenuri Party in 2012. Chung had announced his candidacy for FIFA President. However he has been banned from all football activities for six years by FIFA Ethics Committee in October 2015.

2002

Chung's real mother is unknown. When he ran for the South Korean presidency in 2002, Grand National Party explored on this point. They pondered various speculations about the identity of Chung's real mother. They speculated that his real mother could be a house maid, a geisha, or a particular traditional musician whom Chung Ju-yung had an affair with. In fact in his interview with news reporters in 2002, Chung indicated that his real mother is someone else, saying he would say truth someday. It was reported that he was crying sorrow when he was questioned about his real mother. Chung explained about his real mother in his autobiography in 2011. Chung says that when he studied in US in 1978, he received a letter from someone in Korea who claimed to be his real mother. He hurried to return to Korea, and met her at her place, according to his autobiography. Chung says this was the first and last for him to see that woman.

2003

Chung's brother Chung Mong-hun, then the President of Hyundai Asan who pioneered South and North joint Mount Kumgang tour Business, committed suicide on Aug 4, 2003 when he was investigated by prosecutors for his alleged $400 millions cash remit to North Korea shortly before 2000 North-South summit. Initially this suspicion was raised from US when Congressional Research Service reported such allegation from CIA source on March 5, 2002. Upon hearing of such report, Grand National Party made use of this suspicion to attack the legitimacy of President Kim Dae-jung's government, and demanded thorough investigation through hearings and independent special prosecutors. Several weeks before leaving his office, President Kim gave an apology and advised no investigation for this matter for fear of aggravating North and South's relation, and Chung Mong-hun also confessed much of the allegations to public in his final attempt to evade investigation. But Grand National Party was resolute in its demand for formal investigation. Shortly after Roh's inauguration, Grand National Party passed the law entitling special prosecutors to investigate this case, taking advantage of its majority seats in National Assembly. Roh's regime wasn't able to refuse the demand of investigation, and Chung Mong-hun committed suicide when he was investigated about the use of $15 millions worth of Korean won which was suspected to had been money laundered after its withdrawal from Hyundai's bank accounts. In fact, the money wasn't part of $400 millions cash remittance to North Korea. North Korea blamed Grand National Party immediately after Chung Mong-hun's suicide. So Chung Mong-joon has joined the party which could be considered to be responsible for his brother's death, but Chung blames President Roh instead. In his autobiography which was published in 2011, Chung argues that President Roh didn't refuse Grand National Party's demand of investigation because he believes Roh actually wanted to investigate his brother to revenge on his withdrawal of supporting Roh in 2002 presidential election.

2008

Chung is losing popular support in South Korean politics now. When he ran for assembly man in 2008, he received 54.41% of votes in Dongjak District, but for the following election in 2012, he just received 50.80% barely surviving to lose to the opposition candidate. When he ran for mayor of Seoul in 2014, he received 43.03% votes from Seoul residents losing to then incumbent mayor of Seoul and previous civil rights Activist Park Won-soon who received 55% of total votes. It turned out that Chung's electoral district, Dongjak voted only 41.80% for Chung whereas it gave 57.45% for Park's favor.

2011

On top of publishing autobiography, Chung also donated huge money and set up a charity foundation in 2011, a year before 2012 presidential election. He contributed $200 millions worth of Korean won from selling approximately 5% of his assets and established Asan Sharing Foundation which offers educational opportunities and financial assistance to young people from low income families. He said he funded it to commemorate his late Father Chung Ju-yung, but many couldn't dismiss reasonable suspicion that his motivation was to impress public before presidential election. In fact Chung didn't deny such suspicion, arguing that donation is supposed to good regardless of purpose.

2012

Chung didn't think of Park Geun-hye as accomplished as himself before 2012 presidential election. When he decided to compete with Park, he said he was a better choice as a presidential candidate because of his educational background and work experience. When he pointed out Park's disadvantage, he argued that expertise of politics and economy is not something to be achieved in a short time. When Park Geun-hye wrote an article about North Korean issue in Foreign Affairs, Chung discredited it claiming someone else had written it under her name. Therefore, it was clear that he wouldn't miss 2012 presidential election. In 2012, he ran for the presidency, but only briefly. He was the first Politician who submitted application for registration as a preliminary presidential candidate on May 1, 2012, but dropped out of the race in a couple of months. He wanted rule change for primary election so that general population choose party's presidential candidate, but he wasn't able to make this demand sound serious to Grand National Party, since Park Geun-hye's followers dominated and controlled the party. He gave up his candidacy and supported Park after. When he advertised Park at streets, he was saying to crowd that Park was prepared, and she was the one to take good care of economy and diplomacy.

Some Chung Mong-Joon images

About the author

Lisa Scholfield

As a Senior Writer at Famous Net Worth, I spearhead an exceptional team dedicated to uncovering and sharing the stories of pioneering individuals. My passion for unearthing untold narratives drives me to delve deep into the essence of each subject, bringing forth a unique blend of factual accuracy and narrative allure. In orchestrating the editorial workflow, I am deeply involved in every step—from initial research to the final touches of publishing, ensuring each biography not only informs but also engages and inspires our readership.