News: Kia Motors sponsors football "ambassadors" to boost brand image worldwide

News 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Michael Choo (mjc@kia.co.kr  ),
International Communications Manager, Kia Motors Corporation, Tel:
+82-2-3464-6574, Fax: +82-2-3464-6845

Kia Motors sponsors football "ambassadors" to boost brand image
worldwide

-	Rising Korean football stars in European leagues to represent
the Kia brand 

(SEOUL) June 23, 2005 -- Kia Motors Corporation announced that it has
entered into an agreement to endorse rising young football stars playing
for top European professional teams to help raise the profile of the Kia
brand among international fans of "the world's greatest game." Four
Korean football stars who are currently gaining tremendous popularity on
the international football scene are to act as "ambassadors" and receive
sponsorship from Kia Motors. The players are Young-Pyo Lee (PSV
Eindhoven, Holland), Ji-Sung Park (recently signed with Manchester
United, UK), Ki-Hyun Seol (Wolverhampton, UK), and Doo Ri Cha (Eintracht
Frankfurt, Germany).

The agreement was formalized today at the "Kia Football Ambassador
Partnership Signing Ceremony" held at Kia Motors Headquarters in Seoul,
Korea. The event was attended by the new ambassadors and top executives
of Kia Motors Corporation as well as members of the media. Ik-Hwan Kim,
President and CEO of Kia Motors Corporation, gave a warm welcome to the
athletes, who -- as representatives of the Kia brand name -- received
keys to new Kia vehicles including the luxurious Opirus (Amanti) sedan
and highly acclaimed Sorento SUV.

The new Kia Ambassadors pledged to "enrich the sport of football around
the world and reaffirm their dedication to the greatest game on earth."
Over the next 15 months, and leading up to the 2006 FIFA World Cup to be
held in Germany, they will be making public appearances at motor shows
and other events in Europe in order to enhance Kia's brand recognition
and image.

Speaking on behalf of the Kia football ambassadors, Young-Pyo Lee said,
"We are extremely happy to have this opportunity to act as ambassadors
for Kia Motors, a pioneer in the automobile industry. Kia cars, like the
Sorento, are increasingly gaining recognition across Europe through TV
ads and sports event sponsorships. We are proud to personally represent
Kia Motors and will work hard to endorse the brand."

Ik-Hwan Kim, President and CEO of Kia Motors, said, "Football is the
national sport not only of Korea but also many countries around the
world. These gifted football professionals perfectly personify the
'exciting and enabling' brand identity of Kia Motors." He added, "Like
the ever-growing quality and popularity of the Kia line-up, these young
men are making tremendous strides in gaining recognition across Europe
and the rest of the world for their high-caliber sportsmanship and
performance, and we are extremely pleased to have them represent the Kia
brand."

Kia Motors has stepped up its efforts to raise its brand awareness in
recent years through active sponsorship of major international sporting
events, including the Australian Open and Davis Cup tennis tournaments,
in-line skating, and the Asian X games. Kia Motors, alongside Hyundai
Motor Corporation, has also entered into an agreement with FIFA to
sponsor the World Cup in 2010 and 2014. However, this is the first time
Kia has signed on domestic football stars to boost their brand image on
a global scale.

*Photo caption (from left to right): Young-Pyo Lee (PSV Eindhoven,
Holland), Ki-Hyun Seol (Wolverhampton, UK), and Doo Ri Cha (Eintracht
Frankfurt, Germany).


Kia Motors Corporation (www.kiamotors.com
<http://autoway.kia.co.kr/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.kiamotors
.com/> ) -- the fastest growing automaker in the world -- was founded in
1944 and is Korea's oldest manufacturer of motor vehicles. As part of
the Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group, Kia aims to become one of the world's
premier automotive brands. Kia's 16 manufacturing and assembly
operations in 12 countries produce more than 1.1 million vehicles a year
that are sold and serviced through a network of distributors and dealers
covering 155 countries. Kia today has over 32,000 employees and annual
revenues of $14 billion. It is the major sponsor of the Australian
Tennis Open and an official worldwide sponsor of the Davis Cup. Kia
Motors Corporation's brand slogan -- "The Power to Surprise" --
represents the company's global commitment to surpassing customer
expectations through continuous automotive innovation.


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