Kia Corporation, one of the world’s largest automobile manufacturers, was founded in 1944 and is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea. Today, Kia CEO Ho Sung Song (Korean: 송호성) leads the company’s global operations spanning over 190 countries, with more than 52,000 employees and annual revenue exceeding 114 trillion won (~$82 billion). Appointed in January 2019, Song has overseen one of the most dramatic brand transformations in automotive history, repositioning Kia from a budget-friendly marque into a design-forward, EV-pioneering global brand. Under his leadership, Kia changed its name from “Kia Motors” to “Kia Corporation,” launched the acclaimed EV6, EV9, and EV3, introduced the “Movement that Inspires” philosophy, and achieved over 100 trillion won in annual sales for the first time. He was reappointed for a third term in March 2025 and won the prestigious Issigonis Trophy at the 2025 Autocar Awards.

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Ho Sung Song – Quick Facts

Kia Corporation Competitors

Kia Corporation operates in the highly competitive global automotive industry. The key competitors of Kia include:

• Hyundai Motor Company – sister brand under Hyundai Motor Group
• Toyota Motor Corporation – world’s largest automaker by volume
• Volkswagen Group – Europe’s largest automaker
• Stellantis (Jeep, Chrysler, Peugeot, Fiat) – global mass-market competitor
• Tesla – leading EV competitor
• BYD – China’s top EV and plug-in hybrid manufacturer
• Nissan Motor – Japanese mass-market competitor
• Ford Motor Company – American automotive giant

Ho Sung Song Net Worth 2026 – Kia CEO Salary

As of 2026, Ho Sung Song’s estimated net worth is approximately $10–17 million USD. Korean chaebol (conglomerate) executives typically receive lower cash compensation than their American and European peers, but may benefit from other arrangements within the broader Hyundai Motor Group structure. In 2022, Song earned approximately 2,541 million won (~$2 million) in salary and performance bonuses, according to Korean corporate disclosure filings.

Kia CEO Compensation Overview

Kia Corporation Net Worth 2026 – Is Kia Profitable?

Yes, Kia Corporation is a highly profitable company. Under CEO Ho Sung Song, Kia has achieved record-breaking financial performance, surpassing 100 trillion won in annual revenue for the first time in 2024 and maintaining that level in 2025. Kia Corporation is part of Hyundai Motor Group, one of the world’s largest automotive conglomerates.

Kia Corporation Financial Summary (FY2025)

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Kia CEO Email Address | Ho Sung Song Contact

Below are the official contact details for Kia Corporation CEO Ho Sung Song:

Career & Education – Company, University, & College

Ho Sung Song’s career spans over three decades within the Hyundai Motor Group ecosystem. Rising through the ranks at both Hyundai Motor and Kia, Song developed deep expertise in international markets, particularly Europe, where he led Kia’s regional operations. Below is his complete career timeline:

Ho Sung Song Career Timeline

Song began his career at Hyundai Motor Company before transitioning to Kia, where he rose through a series of increasingly senior positions. His tenure as Head of Export Planning gave him deep experience in international trade strategy, while his years leading Kia Motors Europe provided firsthand insight into one of the world’s most competitive and quality-demanding automotive markets.

His European experience proved especially significant. During his time heading Kia’s European Regional Headquarters, Song saw how design and quality perception could transform a brand’s trajectory. This understanding directly informed his later strategic decisions as CEO, particularly the massive investment in design talent and the hiring of renowned designers like Peter Schreyer and Karim Habib.

Upon his appointment as CEO in January 2019, Song launched Plan S, Kia’s comprehensive mid-to-long-term strategy focused on electrification and purpose-built vehicles (PBVs). Under his direction, Kia introduced the Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), launched the EV6 (2022 European Car of the Year), the EV9 three-row electric SUV, and the EV3 (2025 World Car of the Year).

Education

Song attended Jeonju High School in his hometown before enrolling at Yonsei University, one of South Korea’s most prestigious institutions and a member of the elite “SKY” group (Seoul National, Korea, Yonsei). His choice to study French Language and Literature is highly unusual among automotive CEOs, who typically come from engineering or business backgrounds. However, his linguistic and cultural training proved invaluable in navigating international markets, particularly the French-speaking and broader European automotive landscape.

Ho Sung Song as Kia CEO – Leadership & Achievements

Ho Sung Song’s tenure as Kia CEO has been defined by a bold, visionary transformation of the entire brand. When he took over in 2019, Kia was widely perceived as a budget-oriented automaker. By 2026, Kia has won the World Car of the Year award, multiple European Car of the Year honors, and is recognized as a genuine design and technology leader.

Key Achievements Under Song’s Leadership

• Brand Transformation (2021): Led the rebranding from “Kia Motors” to “Kia Corporation,” introducing a new logo, the “Movement that Inspires” philosophy, and a completely refreshed brand identity
• EV Leadership: Launched the EV6 (2022 European Car of the Year, 2023 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year), EV9 (J.D. Power award winner), and EV3 (2025 World Car of the Year)
• Plan S Strategy: Initiated comprehensive electrification and purpose-built vehicle (PBV) strategy, targeting 1.6 million EV sales by 2030
• Revenue Milestones: Achieved over 100 trillion won in annual sales for the first time in FY2024, followed by a record KRW 114.1 trillion in FY2025
• Record Global Sales: Set an all-time record of 3,135,873 global vehicle sales in 2025
• Design Revolution: Transformed Kia’s design language with bold, modern aesthetics that have won numerous international design awards
• Issigonis Trophy (2025): Won the prestigious Autocar Issigonis Trophy, joining past winners like Ferdinand Piech and Sergio Marchionne
• Third Term Reappointment (2025): Shareholders voted to extend his tenure through March 2028, reflecting strong confidence in his leadership

Ho Sung Song Wiki – Age, Family, & Personal Life

Ho Sung Song was born in October 1962 in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, South Korea, making him 63 years old as of 2026. Jeonju is known as the cultural capital of South Korea, famous for its traditional cuisine (particularly bibimbap) and historical heritage. Song grew up in this culturally rich city before moving to Seoul for university.

Song maintains a notably low public profile outside of major industry events and corporate obligations. Unlike many Western automotive CEOs who actively maintain social media presences and participate in public speaking circuits, Song follows the more traditional Korean corporate executive model of focusing on business results rather than personal branding.

Details about his wife, children, and family life are not publicly disclosed, consistent with Korean cultural norms around executive privacy. What is known is that Song is deeply passionate about the automotive industry and has spent his entire career within the Hyundai Motor Group ecosystem, suggesting a strong dedication to Korean manufacturing excellence.

Notable Recognitions & Awards

• Issigonis Trophy (2025) – One of the most prestigious individual awards in the automotive industry, from Autocar Awards
• Reappointed for Third Term (2025) – Shareholders voted unanimously to extend Song’s tenure, a testament to his transformative leadership
• EV3 – 2025 World Car of the Year – Developed under Song’s leadership
• EV6 – 2022 European Car of the Year – Kia’s first-ever European COTY winner
• 100 Trillion Won Club – Kia joined the elite group of Korean companies achieving annual revenue above KRW 100 trillion

Fun Fact

Song studied French literature in college — not engineering or business — making him one of the very few major global automaker CEOs with a humanities degree. His Issigonis Trophy (2025) places him in the company of past winners like Ferdinand Piech and Sergio Marchionne, two of the auto industry’s most legendary figures. The trophy is named after Sir Alec Issigonis, the creator of the original Mini.

About Kia Corporation

Kia Corporation is a South Korean multinational automobile manufacturer headquartered in Seoul. Originally founded in 1944 as a manufacturer of steel tubing and bicycle parts, Kia has grown into one of the world’s largest automakers, producing over 3 million vehicles annually. The company is part of Hyundai Motor Group, which holds approximately 34% of Kia’s shares.

Kia operates manufacturing facilities in South Korea, the United States (West Point, Georgia), Mexico, China, India, and Slovakia. The company’s product lineup spans sedans, SUVs, crossovers, electric vehicles, and purpose-built vehicles (PBVs). Key models include the Sportage, Sorento, Telluride, Carnival, K5, EV6, EV9, and the newly launched EV3.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Who is the current CEO of Kia?

The current CEO of Kia Corporation is Ho Sung Song (송호성). He has served as President and CEO since January 2019 and was reappointed for a third term in March 2025, extending his tenure through March 2028.

What is Ho Sung Song’s net worth in 2026?

As of 2026, Ho Sung Song’s estimated net worth is approximately $10–17 million USD. His annual compensation is estimated at $1–4 million, which is considerably lower than Western automotive CEO pay packages due to Korean corporate governance norms.

What is Kia CEO’s salary?

Ho Sung Song’s total annual compensation is estimated at $1–4 million, including base salary and performance bonuses. In 2022, he reported earnings of approximately 2,541 million won (~$2 million) in Korean corporate filings.

What is Ho Sung Song’s email address?

Kia Corporation’s CEO can be reached at [email protected]. The company’s global headquarters phone number is +82-2-3464-5114. For US customer inquiries, call 800-333-4KIA (4542).

Is Kia part of Hyundai?

Kia Corporation is part of Hyundai Motor Group, which owns approximately 34% of Kia’s shares. However, Kia operates as a separate brand with its own CEO, management team, design studio, and product lineup. Kia and Hyundai share platforms and technologies but compete independently in the marketplace.

What did Ho Sung Song study?

Ho Sung Song studied French Language and Literature at Yonsei University in Seoul, one of South Korea’s most prestigious universities. His humanities background is highly unusual among global automotive CEOs, who typically have engineering or MBA degrees.

How many cars does Kia sell per year?

Kia sold a record 3,135,873 vehicles globally in 2025, a 1.5% increase over the previous year. The company operates in over 190 countries worldwide.

Article last updated: March 2026