This is a very personal thought I had as I rode the streets of Seoul in the New sonata.
There are many ways to pass free time, but there’s nothing like a drive without purpose. As you ride through the busy Seoul roads, you will either lose all thoughts or get lost deep in so many of them. Even though I enjoy the blank moments, I do not intentionally block out the thoughts I naturally get. I rather welcome them. This was the case for the day I rode the New Sonata. I had a lot of thoughts in my head, and some among them are on the New Sonata.
Seongwoo Barbershop is one of the oldest stores in Seoul.
On a hilly road in Manlidong, Mapo, there is Seongwoo Barbershop, which has been standing in the same spot for about 100 years and operating through 3 generations since 1927. The store sign under the slate roof shows how much history it has endured and is looking vulnerable. Even so, Seongwoo Barbershop is able to remain here for so long because of its strong, solid values that contrast such a feeble exterior.
Sonata also shows a long history of 35 years, having gone through 7 generations.
New Sonata stands before it, all donned in sophisticated design and state of the art technology. Since its launch in 1985, there were 7 generation changes, and we don’t know how many more there are to come. The principle of being a ‘national car that sticks to the basics’ that has been going on for more than 30 years will remain unchanged, like that of the old store that has been operating vigorously in Manlijae-ro.
Yongsan is a busy downtown that still holds its past.
Tall skyscrapers and the familiar old streets coexist in Yongsan. Put the busy city life behind you, and turn around to find a small village that remains the same for decades. ‘Ding ding’ the bell goes, and a station staff will come out to block the crossing. Soon a train rushes through the forest of building and crosses the road where cars and people were just passing. The ‘ding ding’ that goes off every 5~6 minutes gave this place the nick name ‘Ding ding road’. It’s the Baekbin Railroad Crossing.
New Sonata quietly holds its position in front of a speedy train.
A freight train passes by the crossing with a loud noise. The car stands still, taking a breather. There’s no other sentence than ‘standing in its place’ that is more trustworthy. Come to think of it, the whole town is like this. The rent is relatively inexpensive due to the loud train noise, but so many places, mills, bars, local eateries and many old stores have stood in the same places for a long time.
Sonata has been known as the ‘nation’s car’ for a long time.
It’s not easy standing in one place for a long time. And we call those valuable culture or beings that have achieved such a feat ‘heritage’. Could Sonata be called one? I dare say Sonata is certainly one of them, which have gone through 7 generation in the past 35 years and have held the title of ‘nation’s car’ as a Korean middle-sized sedan, and it will continue to guard its values in its place.
Photography by Lee Seung-woo
