A handwritten farewell letter written by a truck owner before scrapping his truck of 29 years has gone viral online, prompting Hyundai Motor to track down and locate the owner.
Hyundai Motor announced through its official social media channels, "We have found the owner of the Porter that spent a long 29 years on the road. Thanks to the tips and interest sent in by many people, we were able to get in touch with the owner."
Recently, a photo of a handwritten letter titled "Farewell Drive" left by an owner for his Porter truck of 29 years spread widely online.
According to the owner, the Porter's initial registration date was October 28, 1997, and its total mileage reached 448,000 kilometers.
The letter began with the words, "I dedicate this writing to my beloved friend who has shared life's ups and downs with me for 29 years." It continued, "We met each other and weathered the storm of the IMF, and through that long time, you silently shouldered my hardships. Thanks to you, I was able to raise and educate my two children, who are now living their best lives on their own paths."
Expressing gratitude for the accident-free vehicle, the owner wrote, "You were not just a car, but my life's companion, friend, and family."
The letter concluded with, "I am so sorry to let you go. Goodbye, my friend."
As the owner's heartfelt handwritten letter gained attention, Hyundai Motor took to social media, saying, "The depth of your feelings after spending 29 years together truly resonates with us," and launched a search for the owner.
The Porter owner is 79-year-old Choi Young-du. He attached the farewell letter, written on the back of a calendar on the last weekend of August when he decided to scrap the vehicle, to the Porter's windshield. Someone photographed it and shared it online, bringing it to the world's attention.
Choi is said to have promised himself when purchasing the Porter, "I won't abandon you, so don't abandon me, let's stay together."
However, after 29 years, the metal body rusted and developed holes, and with parts no longer being supplied, he ultimately decided to part ways with the Porter.
On the morning of the day it was headed to the scrapyard, Choi drove the Porter on its final run, recalling, "I drove past my former clients one last time, retracing the roads where it worked so hard to bring back memories."
Hyundai Motor stated, "We were deeply moved by the owner's sincere heart," adding, "Please look forward to the stories we will create with the owner moving forward."
(Reported by Jung Da-eun, Video by Seo Byeong-wook, Design by Sumin Lee, Produced by SBS Digital News)
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