Hyundai Motor Company "We Found the Owner!"... The 450,000-Kilometer Porter Bids Farewell to Its "Friend" with a Heartfelt Letter

Farewell Drive Letter Goes Viral Online Ahead of Retirement
Owner Choi Youngdoo Reunited With Hyundai Thanks to Public Leads

Hyundai Motor Company has successfully tracked down the owner who left a "farewell letter" on a truck that was scrapped after 29 years and 448,000 kilometers of travel together, a story that sparked considerable attention.

Farewell Letter Left by the Owner on a Porter Truck Operated for 29 Years. Screenshot from an Online Community

On September 8, through its official social media account, Hyundai Motor Company announced, "We have found the owner of the 'farewell ride' Porter, who traveled down the road with the truck for the long span of 29 years," adding, "Thanks to the reports and interest from so many people, we were able to get in touch with the owner."

Previously, an image of a handwritten letter titled "farewell ride" attached to the windshield of a Porter began spreading online, attracting a great deal of attention. According to the owner, the Porter was first registered on October 28, 1997, and had accumulated a total mileage of 448,000 kilometers.

In the letter, the owner wrote, "I dedicate these words to my beloved friend with whom I have shared joys and sorrows for 29 years," and continued, "We met each other and even endured the storm of the IMF crisis, and for all that long time, you quietly bore the hardships with me." He added, "Thanks to you, I was able to raise and educate my two children. Now, they are each doing their best in their own lives," going on to say, "Thank you so much. And I am truly grateful that you carried me safely without any accidents."

He went on to say, "I am truly sorry that I could not keep the promise we made to always be together as the years went by," and added, "But I will forever cherish your breath and your devotion." He continued, "You were not just a car to me. You were a companion, a friend, and family in my life," and concluded with, "I am deeply grateful for all those years, and so sorry to have to say goodbye to you. Farewell, my friend."

As the heartfelt letter attracted wide attention online, Hyundai Motor Company posted on social media, "Your feelings for having stayed together for such a long time of 29 years really moved us," asking, "If anyone knows the owner or if you are the owner, please contact the official account of Hyundai Motor Company."

Choi Youngdoo (79), the owner of the Porter who became famous for the 'Farewell Letter'. Screenshot from Hyundai Motor Company SNS.

Thanks to reports from internet users, Hyundai Motor Company succeeded in contacting the owner, Mr. Choi Youngdoo (79). Mr. Choi wrote the farewell letter on the back of a calendar during the last week of August, after deciding to scrap the vehicle, and attached it to the front windshield of the Porter. Someone took a photo of the letter and shared it online, bringing the story to public attention.

Mr. Choi stated that, when he first bought the Porter, he made a promise, saying, "I won’t abandon you, so don’t abandon me; let’s be together." Keeping that very first promise, he is said to have driven the Porter for 29 years without an accident.

The reason for scrapping his Porter of 29 years was not due to any breakdown, but rather because, over time, some parts became impossible to find. Mr. Choi shared, "It felt like such a loss to scrap a vehicle that had never broken down in 29 years," and added, "But as the body began to rust and holes started to appear, there were a few parts that simply could no longer be supplied as time went on."

Once again, Mr. Choi offered his final farewell to the Porter he had spent so many years with, saying, "You will be reborn at the steel mill, but for me, now at the age of 80, the idea of 'starting over' doesn’t resonate as it used to." He added, "It pains me that at the very last moment I didn’t get to pat your side and say goodbye. Farewell, may you meet someone even better. Goodbye."

Hyundai Motor Company commented, "We, too, were deeply moved by your heartfelt words," and added, "Please look forward to the stories that Mr. Choi and Hyundai Motor Company will create together going forward."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.