Hyundai Motor Company is hosting the ‘Pony’s Time’ exhibition at the ‘Hyundai Motorstudio Seoul’ (located in Gangnam, Seoul), presenting various perspectives on the heritage of Hyundai, including the Pony.
Pony’s Time is the second heritage project of Hyundai Motor Company following the ‘Hyundai Reunion’ held in Italy last May, and it’s the first of its kind in South Korea.
This exhibition allows visitors to trace the traces of time accumulated by the Pony, the country’s first independently developed model, and experience the heritage from multiple angles, including the historical context, design, and philosophical considerations of that era.
Through this, Hyundai aims to reflect on the human-centered innovation that has continued from the late Chairman Jung Ju-young to present, based on the brand vision of ‘Progress for Humanity’.
Along with the exhibition, Hyundai Motor Company introduced the ‘Retrace Series’, which systematically records the journey of Hyundai as it evolved into a global leading company.
The published Retrace Series consists of two types of publications: the ‘Retrace Collection’, which faithfully contains documents related to the development of the Pony that have not been made public before, and the ‘Retrace Magazine’, which explores the theme of ownership through the Pony that initiated the My Car era.
On June 7, the opening event of the Pony’s Time exhibition and the publication celebration of the Retrace Series was attended by key figures such as Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Eui-sun, President of Hyundai Motor Company Jang Jae-hoon, former overseas business chief Kim Noe-myeong, and former head of the technology research center Lee Soo-il, along with many current and former employees and stakeholders who contributed to the start of the Pony.
Chairman Chung stated, “As we encounter daily updates about rapid advancements in artificial intelligence and robotics technology, I wanted to reflect on our beginnings to find out our purpose and direction and what has made Hyundai Motor Company what it is today.”
The event included various histories related to Hyundai’s heritage, including behind-the-scenes stories from the restoration of Pony designs and exhibition planning, culminating in a commemorative performance by the band Jannabi.
President Jang remarked, “The publication of the ‘Retrace Series’ is meant to trace our journey from our founder to now—the ‘people-oriented’ and ‘boldly challenged innovation’ path that we have followed. I felt once more the immense efforts and passion of our predecessors that led to the establishment of modern Hyundai and South Korea, and this history will serve as a compass for Hyundai as we live today and move toward tomorrow.”
Pony’s Time will run from June 9 (Friday) to August 6 (Sunday) for about 60 days, transforming the entire floor of Hyundai Motorstudio Seoul into an exhibition space that follows the layered time that the Pony has built over the years.
The exhibition begins on the 5th floor, featuring artifacts collected from the 1970s and 1980s, the historical context at the birth of the Pony, and reinterpretations through videos, music, and artworks to vividly immerse visitors in the period.
On the 4th floor, a variety of documents from the Pony’s initial creation to its export to the world are exhibited.
Moving to the 3rd floor, for the first time in Korea, the restored model of the ‘Pony Coupe Concept’, which was unveiled at last month’s Hyundai Reunion, is showcased alongside design retrospective materials from the legendary Italian designer Giorgetto Giugiaro who created it.
Additionally, Hyundai exhibits the high-performance hydrogen hybrid rolling lab ‘N Vision 74’, developed with inspiration from the Pony Coupe Concept, in the same space to enhance its significance.
The last part of the exhibition on the 2nd floor features images capturing various moments of the Pony cherished in the memories of many citizens, presenting an opportunity to revisit the humanitarian spirit valued by the late Chairman Jung Ju-young, who regarded people as the most important value.
Hyundai expects that through this exhibition, visitors will not only experience the beginning and progress of Hyundai, which is ‘for people’ but also the history of South Korea’s economic growth.
Customers wishing to visit the Pony’s Time exhibition can make reservations on the Hyundai Motorstudio site. (‘Go to reserve ‘Pony’s Time’)
The two types of Retrace Series can be viewed at the Pony’s Time exhibition space, and the Retrace Magazine is available for purchase at Hyundai Motorstudio Seoul, the Hyundai Collection online shop, and major bookstores across the country.
Moreover, to cherish the memories of the Pony, Hyundai has prepared various heritage goods such as die-cast models of the Pony Coupe, air fresheners, posters, and postcards.
These heritage goods can also be purchased at Hyundai Motorstudio Seoul and the Hyundai Collection online shop.
In addition, Hyundai Motor Company is actively engaging in various activities to showcase its brand heritage, including a documentary covering the development and sales process of the Pony, as well as a film featuring the story of a young person in their 20s who operates a Pony vehicle in the Netherlands.
Lee Sang-jin daedusj@autodiary.kr