"We Weathered the IMF Storm Together, My Friend": Owner Writes Farewell Letter to Truck That Traveled 448,000 km Over 29 Years [Heartwarming Story]

[Financial News] A handwritten letter left by the owner of a Hyundai Porter truck that traveled alongside him for 29 years is quietly moving people online.

Yonhap News TV reported on the 3rd that photos of a handwritten letter attached to the windshield of a blue Hyundai Porter truck parked in an underground parking lot had recently spread across various online communities and social media platforms.
Titled "Final Drive," the letter read, "I dedicate these words to my beloved friend, with whom I shared 29 years of joys and hardships. Let’s take the final journey together slowly. Thank you."
The letter listed the truck’s initial registration date, October 28, 1997, along with its total mileage of 448,000 km.
The owner wrote, "We met each other and weathered the storm of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) crisis together. Throughout those long years, you quietly bore the burden of my hardships," adding, "Thanks to you, I was able to raise and educate my two children. Now, they are each doing their best on their own paths in life." He continued, "All of these joys were possible because you were there. Thank you so much. And thank you, truly, for driving accident-free."

The owner went on to write, "I’m truly sorry that I couldn’t keep our promise to always stay together until the very end," adding, "But I will cherish your breath and devotion forever."
He expressed his gratitude to the truck, writing, "You were not just a car. You were my life companion, friend, and family. Thank you so much for everything, and I’m truly sorry to let you go. Goodbye, my friend."
Online users who came across the story responded with comments such as, "It’s truly sad when you send off a car. I don’t know why saying goodbye is so difficult when it’s just a machine," "At that point, it’s really no different from family," "The owner is amazing for driving accident-free for 29 years," "Showing emotions toward a cold lump of metal isn’t because the car is alive, but because it shared all the joys and sorrows of the life that person lived," and "A car that becomes a companion through so many years together seems to hold a special meaning."
[email protected] Kim Soo-yeon Reporter