Korean envoy to US vows support for bilateral investment at Hyundai's Alabama plant

Published Oct 31, 2026 9:03 am KST

From left, Alabama Commerce Secretary Ellen McNair; Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey; Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama President and CEO Mark Rader; and Korean Ambassador to the United States Kang Kyung-wha pose for a photo during an event announcing a $450 million investment at Hyundai's plant in Montgomery, Alabama, Oct. 28. Captured from the X account of the Korean Embassy in Washington

WASHINGTON — Korean Ambassador to the United States Kang Kyung-wha has pledged to strengthen cooperation with U.S. authorities to support bilateral investment, describing Hyundai Motor Group's latest investment in Alabama as an example of the expanding economic partnership between the two countries.

Kang made the remarks Wednesday while attending a ceremony announcing Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama's plan to invest about $450 million in its Montgomery plant, according to the Korean Embassy in Washington.

The ambassador highlighted Hyundai's presence in the U.S. as an "outstanding example" of how the Korea-U.S. alliance has evolved over more than seven decades, expanding beyond its security foundations into cooperation in economic security and advanced technology.

Kang also said the investment would combine Korea's advanced manufacturing capabilities with America's innovation and market competitiveness, allowing the two countries to "shape the future of the automotive industry together," according to the embassy.

She added that the Korean government would work closely with U.S. federal, state and local governments to continue supporting "mutually beneficial investments and economic cooperation."

发布于2026年10月31日上午9:03（韩国标准时间）

10月28日，在现代汽车阿拉巴马州蒙哥马利工厂宣布投资4.5亿美元的活动上，从左至右依次为：阿拉巴马州商务部长艾伦·麦克奈尔、阿拉巴马州州长凯·艾维、现代汽车阿拉巴马州制造公司总裁兼首席执行官马克·雷德以及韩国驻美国大使康京和。照片由韩国驻华盛顿大使馆官方账号发布。

华盛顿——韩国驻美国大使康京和承诺将加强与美国当局的合作，以支持双边投资。她将现代汽车集团在阿拉巴马州的最新投资描述为两国经济伙伴关系不断扩大的例证。

据韩国驻华盛顿大使馆消息，康先生周三在出席现代汽车阿拉巴马州制造公司宣布计划向其位于蒙哥马利的工厂投资约 4.5 亿美元的仪式时发表了上述言论。

大使强调，现代汽车在美国的业务是韩美同盟七十多年来不断发展演变的“杰出范例”，韩美同盟已从安全基础扩展到经济安全和先进技术领域的合作。

据大使馆消息，康还表示，这项投资将结合韩国先进的制造能力和美国的创新能力和市场竞争力，使两国能够“共同塑造汽车行业的未来”。

她补充说，韩国政府将与美国联邦、州和地方政府密切合作，继续支持“互利共赢的投资和经济合作”。