Hankook Tire was established on May 10, 1941, in Seoul, Korea, as the Chosun Tire Company. The company was renamed to Hankook Tire Manufacturing in 1968 ("Hankook" literally meaning "Korea") and has since grown to become one of the top ten largest tire manufacturers globally.  

Key Historical Milestones 

1941: Founding 
Founded as the Chosun Tire Company, it was the first automobile tire company in Korea. 

1953: Renamed 
The company was officially renamed Hankook Tire Corporation after the Korean War. 

1962: First Exports 
Hankook began exporting car tires for the first time, with its initial shipment going to Pakistan. 

1974: Radial Tire Development 
The company developed Korea's first radial passenger tire, a significant technological leap that improved vehicle performance and safety. 

1980s: Global Expansion and R&D 
Foreign trade helped the company exceed $100 million in annual exports by 1980, and in 1981, it established its first sales branch in the United States. The company also established its R&D center in Daejeon in 1982. 

1990s: Top Tier Ranking 
By 1991, Hankook Tire was ranked among the top ten largest tire manufacturers worldwide. 

2003: Strategic Alliance 
Hankook formed a strategic alliance with the Michelin Group, a global leader in the tire industry. 

2017: U.S. Production 
Hankook opened its first U.S. manufacturing plant in Clarksville, Tennessee, to better serve the North American market. 

2022: EV Focus 
The company launched "iON," the world's first full line-up tire brand dedicated exclusively to electric vehicles, highlighting its pivot toward electrification. 

Present Day: Motorsports and Innovation 
Hankook is currently the exclusive tire supplier for the FIA Formula E World Championship and, starting in 2025, will be the sole supplier for the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC).  

Hankook & Company is the current holding company of Hankook Tire & Technology, operating as a diversified mobility-focused entity that also includes a battery business (AtlasBX).