Kumho ‘Looking Positively’ Towards Next 50 Years

On September 1 the management and staff of Kumho Tire Inc., along with important customers and partners, celebrated the company’s fiftieth anniversary at its headquarters in Seoul and its parent facility in Gwangju. “We look back with pride over the past fifty years and the successful development of Kumho Tires and based upon this look positively towards the future and the and the successful accomplishment of the next fifty years,” Kumho Tires CEO stated Kim Jong-Ho during the celebrations at the Gwangju facility. He thanked all employees for their loyalty to Kumho Tires during both good and bad times.

The origin of Kumho Tires in 1960 came through the inability of its then parent company, Kwang Ju Highway Lines, to source suitable tyres for its own vehicles. The company decided to develop and produce tyres appropriate for the market on its own. When production began in January 1961 the tyre maker, then known as Samyang Tires Industrial Company, manufactured just 20 tyres per day; today daily production at Kumho’s eight facilities in Korea, Vietnam and China is 180,000 tyres, and these are sold in more than 180 countries.

“At present Kumho Tires find itself in transition, yet despite every issue I am absolutely certain that with the help of every employee we will overcome all tasks and realise the company’s goals together. Let us write the next chapter in Kumho’s history together,” concluded CEO Kim.