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Kia Names New U.S. Chief Executive

5 January 1999

Kia Names New U.S. Chief Executive; Kia Brand Will Remain Distinct Under New Structure

    IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 5 -- Kia Motors America (KMA) today
announced that B.M. Ahn assumes the role of president and chief executive
officer, effective immediately.
    Ahn comes to KMA from Hyundai Precision & Industry Company in Europe,
where he headed up the export business division for the European and Russian
automotive markets.  Ahn's appointment represents the beginning of an orderly
integration of Hyundai management personnel into Kia's existing organizational
structure in the wake of Hyundai's recent acquisition of KMA's parent company,
Kia Motors Corp.
    In making Ahn's appointment, M.K. Chung, chairman of Kia Motors Corp. and
Hyundai Motor Co., reiterated that Ahn's key responsibility as president and
chief executive officer of KMA will be to build upon the strong brand image
Kia has established in the United States.
    This foundation has helped Kia increase sales 500 percent in five years
with a dealer network of 500.  Kia's dealer body now ranks as the 10th-largest
import franchise in the U.S. auto industry.
    "In particular, what I would like to put an emphasis on here is that the
current brand distribution channel of Kia dealers will be kept intact," Chung
said.  "The current separateness and distinct identity of the Kia brand is
being maintained."
    W.K. Kim, who served as president and chief executive officer of KMA for
nearly two years, will remain with the company as senior executive vice
president.
    Kia Motors America is the sales, marketing and service arm of Kia Motors
Corp. of Seoul, South Korea.