 Ms Hyun has met North Korea's reclusive leader, Kim Jong-il |
The head of one of South Korea's largest conglomerates, Hyundai Asan, has gone to North Korea to try to secure the release of a company worker.
The man, known only by his family name, Yoo, was detained in March at the joint North-South factory zone in the Northern border town of Kaesong. The Hyundai boss, Hyun Jeong-eun, is one of the few South Koreans to have met with Northern leader Kim Jong-il.
Hyundai has invested in cross-border trade and tourism projects.
Clinton effect?
Ms Hyun's meeting with Mr Kim took place in happier times, however.
With North-South Korean relations strained to breaking point in recent months, much of Hyundai Asan's work inside the North has been suspended and Mr Yoo was arrested.
Only the man's family name has been released, but Mr Yoo was accused of undermining the North's political system.
Last week North Korea released two American journalists following the highly publicised visit by former US President Bill Clinton.
He is said to have raised the case of Mr Yoo, but so far North Korea has given no signal that it is ready to release him or even allow him access to South Korean officials or legal representation.
Ms Hyun and her colleagues are hoping they can use some of the goodwill generated by Mr Clinton's visit to win their colleague's freedom.
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