Pope remembered for humble use of Korean cars, tech during papacy

Pope Francis waves inside a Kia Soul compact SUV heading to the Apostolic Nunciature to Korea in Seoul in this August 2014 photo. Yonhap

Hyundai Motor’s Spanish CEO mourns pontiff’s passing

The death of Pope Francis has drawn attention once again to the humility he showed through his use of various Korean products.

When he came to Korea in 2014 for his first trip to Asia as pontiff, he chose Kia’s unarmored Soul compact SUV as the popemobile, reportedly asking the Papal Visit Committee to provide the smallest Korean car available.

Although Kia’s Morning was smaller, the government recommended that he ride in the Soul or Avante (Elantra) of Hyundai Motor, Kia’s sister carmaker, to ensure comfort in the back seat.

The pope also declined to ride in a luxurious convertible during parades in Seoul and Daejeon. Instead, he opted for Hyundai’s Santa Fe and Kia’s Carnival, which were remodeled so the faithful could see him in the back seat.

Last year, the pontiff traveled in Singapore with Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 produced there. The electric vehicle targets drivers in the city state fighting air pollution.

“As a Catholic myself, I found great inspiration in his leadership and humility,” Hyundai Motor CEO Jose Munoz wrote on social media Tuesday, describing the pope as a true servant leader who worked tirelessly for the poor and vulnerable.

“He broke with many traditions in favor of being more inclusive, encouraging more people to join the faithful,” the Korean company’s Spanish executive added.