Amid the frequent heavy rains leading to flood damage, Hyundai Group is taking multiple measures to support the swift recovery of affected areas.
On the 20th, Hyundai Group delivered a donation of 3 billion won to the Hope Bridge National Disaster Relief Association to facilitate prompt support for recovery and aid to residents in flood-affected areas.
Hyundai Group has deployed three laundry relief vehicles to assist in managing contaminated laundry and sent one mental recovery bus to the site to provide rest for affected residents and recovery personnel.
Additionally, Hyundai Group has delivered relief supply kits, bottled water, and essential goods to the affected areas. So far, Hyundai has donated necessary supplies to six areas including ▲ Yesan County ▲ Buan County ▲ Mungyeong City ▲ Cheongyang County ▲ Bonghwa County ▲ Goesan County, while Kia has donated to five areas: ▲ Yesan County ▲ Cheongyang County ▲ Gongju City ▲ Heungdeok District in Cheongju ▲ Goesan County.
Hyundai Group is also planning to offer free inspection services to vehicle owners in flood-affected areas.
They will provide basic vehicle inspections including engine oil, brake oil, coolant, lighting system status, tire pressure and wear, along with replenishing and replacing consumables such as wiper blades, oils, and washers.
Moreover, Hyundai Group plans to reduce repair costs by up to 50% for flood-damaged vehicles and provide free carwash services after repairs are completed. (This support is for customers without personal car insurance, and a damage verification certificate is required, with total discounts capped at 3 million won.)
Furthermore, Hyundai will cover 50% of rental car costs for up to 10 days for customers who need to rent a vehicle while their flood-damaged cars are being repaired. Kia will provide complimentary rental cars for up to 5 days for customers who scrap their flood-damaged cars and, if using a commercial rental service, will cover 50% of costs for up to 10 days. (This is also for customers without personal car insurance, excluding corporate, commercial, and freight vehicles.)
Additionally, Master Son Sun-ik introduced step-by-step response protocols and actions for customer safety during road and vehicle flooding caused by heavy rains.
Master Son works at the High-Tech Lab of Hyundai’s Domestic Service Division and was selected as a “Master of Korea” in the automotive maintenance sector in 2021. The title is awarded by the government to the most skilled technicians in the industry.
Master Son stated, “Due to the frequent heavy rains and concentrated storms compared to previous years, I wanted to inform drivers of practical safety rules that will assist them in emergencies and vehicle management during the monsoon season.”
He provided step-by-step behavioral guidelines for situations involving road flooding due to heavy rains.
He advised, “If you need to pass through a flooded road while driving, you should use ▲ 1st or 2nd gear and maintain over 2,500 RPM,” explaining, “Driving at higher speeds increases the possibility of water entering the intake, leading to engine shutdown, and vehicle stability can significantly decrease due to hydroplaning.” He also recommended disabling the idle stop function in vehicles equipped with it while stopped.
Master Son emphasized the importance of quick evacuation for safety if a vehicle stalls due to flooding. He highlighted that “electric vehicles are designed to be waterproof, but if water enters the interior due to flooding, it can cause malfunctions leading to shutdown, so it’s imperative to escape.