Korean President and Hyundai Motor Head Tour Car Plant in Turkey

South Korean president Roh Moo-hyun visited Hyundai Motor Co.'s Turkish plant as part of , the last stop a nine-day tour of Germany and Turkey.

Hyundai Motor Chairman Chung Mong-koo, accompanied the Korean president on the tour of the plant. The factory, with an annual production capacity of 60,000 units, has manufactured the Verna compact, Starex and Grace vans since 1997. Chairman Chung noted that his firm plans to double the production capacity of its Turkish facilities.

The Turkish production arm of Hyundai Motor expects to rank third in the country by reaching sales of 92,000 units this year - 68,000 in Turkey and 24,000 in exports.

Prior to the plant visit, Roh flew to Istanbul from the capital Ankara on Saturday and met with Turkish and Korean business people to express his confidence in Korea's recent economic growth.

While at the plant, President Roh took a ride in a Starex vehicle--a car jointly produced by the two countries.

Chung welcomed Roh by saying that his company will intensify its relationship with the Turkish government and become a success model of an overseas joint venture..

South Korea has shown a special respect for Turkey echoed in Roh expressing gratitude to Turkey, which lost the third most soldiers in the war after the United States and Britain.

The Korean company hopes to increase its market share to 13 percent and maintain its No. 3 status by selling 68,000 cars this year.

Moreover, the Turkey plant is a component in Hyundai's global drive to become the world's number 5 car maker by 2010--the Turkey plant key to serving the emerging Eastern European/ Middle Eastern market.