FORESTS WITHOUT NAMES: HYUNDAI MOTOR BRINGS HIDDEN SEA FORESTS INTO THE LIGHT

Hyundai Motor Company has launched its ‘Forests Without Names’ campaign during Earth Month, spotlighting overlooked sea forests in Korea, Argentina and Australia. By naming these ecosystems and integrating them into global maps, Hyundai aims to raise awareness, strengthen marine conservation, and highlight seaweed’s climate value in carbon absorption and biodiversity protection.  

Hyundai Motor Company has launched its ‘Forests Without Names’ campaign during Earth Month, spotlighting overlooked sea forests in Korea, Argentina and Australia. By naming these ecosystems and integrating them into global maps, Hyundai aims to raise awareness, strengthen marine conservation, and highlight seaweed’s climate value in carbon absorption and biodiversity protection.  

Hyundai Motor Company has unveiled a global initiative to bring recognition to the world’s hidden underwater ecosystems. The ‘Forests Without Names’ campaign, launched to mark Earth Month, seeks to give sea forests formal identities while underscoring their ecological importance and role in climate resilience.  

Sea forests, formed by dense marine algae such as kelp and seaweed, are vital habitats that filter pollutants, support biodiversity and absorb carbon. Yet unlike terrestrial forests, many remain unnamed and overlooked. Hyundai’s campaign addresses this invisibility by naming sea forests across Korea, Argentina and Australia, and registering them on mapping platforms to ensure long-term recognition and protection.  

In Korea, one of Ulsan’s restored sea forests has been officially named “Ullim,” evoking resonance and echo, through collaboration with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the Korea Fisheries Resources Agency. In Argentina, Hyundai partnered with local NGOs and indigenous communities to designate “Auken Aiken,” meaning “Field of Life.” In Australia, the final name will be chosen through public voting, reflecting community engagement in conservation.  

The campaign builds on Hyundai’s earlier environmental storytelling, including the Cannes Lions-winning ‘Tree Correspondents’ project, and expands its sustainability focus from land to sea. A dedicated campaign website will evolve into a global Sea Forest Data Hub, archiving verified information on ecosystem characteristics, restoration activities and conservation outcomes.  

Hyunchul Jeon, Head of Future Business & Sustainability Group at Hyundai Motor Company, said: “Through the ‘Forests Without Names’ campaign, we are pleased to shed light on sea forests and highlight their ecological value. We are especially proud to bring this story to life creatively — sparking curiosity about what has long gone unnoticed, and inspiring people to care about what they now know by name.”  

Hyundai’s broader marine conservation work includes seaweed forest restoration in Ulsan, spanning nearly four square kilometres and expected to offset 1,300 tons of CO₂ annually. Since 2021, the company has also partnered with the Healthy Seas foundation to remove 320 tons of marine debris, recycling discarded fishing nets into ECONYL® nylon fibre for use in Hyundai vehicles.  

By naming sea forests and integrating them into global maps, Hyundai Motor aims to shift environmental communication from awareness to recognition, documentation and protection — ensuring these underwater ecosystems are no longer invisible, but celebrated as vital contributors to planetary health.