Quick Facts: Kia Corporation
| Parent Group | Hyundai Motor Group |
| Hyundai’s Kia Stake | ~33.88% |
| Kia Stock Ticker | KRX: 000270 |
| Hyundai Motor Group Chairman | Euisun Chung (Chung family) |
| Kia CEO | Song Ho-sung |
| Founded | 1944 (originally as bicycle/motorcycle manufacturer) |
| Headquarters | Seoul, South Korea |
| Publicly Traded | Yes — KRX: 000270 |
Who Owns Kia?
Kia Corporation is a publicly traded South Korean automaker listed on the Korea Stock Exchange (KRX: 000270). While publicly traded, Kia is a core member of the Hyundai Motor Group, South Korea’s second-largest conglomerate. Hyundai Motor Company owns approximately 33.88% of Kia, making it the single largest shareholder and providing effective corporate control through the group’s complex cross-shareholding structure. The Chung family — South Korea’s Hyundai founding dynasty — controls Hyundai Motor Group through a web of cross-holdings and family-held stakes. Euisun Chung, the grandson of Hyundai founder Chung Ju-yung, serves as Executive Chairman of Hyundai Motor Group. Song Ho-sung serves as President and CEO of Kia Corporation.
Kia’s History and the Hyundai Acquisition
Kia was founded in 1944 originally as a manufacturer of bicycle and motorcycle parts under the name Kyungsung Precision Industry. It produced Korea’s first domestically made bicycle and later expanded into automobiles. Kia was briefly independent as a car manufacturer in the 1970s–1990s before suffering financial distress during the 1997 Asian financial crisis. Hyundai Motor Company acquired a controlling stake in Kia through a court-supervised bankruptcy process in 1998, establishing the Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group (now Hyundai Motor Group). Today, Hyundai and Kia together form the world’s third-largest automotive manufacturer by volume.
Key Ownership Highlights
- Kia is publicly traded (KRX: 000270) but majority-influenced by Hyundai Motor Group, which owns approximately 33.88% of Kia through Hyundai Motor Company.
- The Chung family controls Hyundai Motor Group; Euisun Chung serves as Executive Chairman.
- Song Ho-sung is President and CEO of Kia Corporation.
- Hyundai acquired Kia in 1998 following Kia’s bankruptcy during the Asian financial crisis — the most significant automotive rescue in South Korean history.
- Hyundai and Kia together constitute the world’s third-largest automaker by global vehicle sales volume.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns Kia?
Kia Corporation (KRX: 000270) is publicly traded, but Hyundai Motor Company (part of Hyundai Motor Group) owns approximately 33.88% of Kia — making it the dominant shareholder. The Chung family controls Hyundai Motor Group.
Is Kia the same company as Hyundai?
Kia and Hyundai are separate publicly traded companies, but both are members of Hyundai Motor Group. Hyundai Motor Company owns approximately 33.88% of Kia, providing substantial corporate influence and shared engineering, production, and strategic platforms between the two brands.
Is Kia publicly traded?
Yes. Kia Corporation is listed on the Korea Stock Exchange under the ticker KRX: 000270.
When was Kia founded?
Kia was founded in 1944 in South Korea — initially as a manufacturer of bicycle parts. It expanded into motorcycles and then automobiles, becoming the car brand it is known as today.
