South Korean Internet users picked the late Chung Joo-young, the founder of the Hyundai Group, as the person who contributed the most to the nation's economic growth.

According to a poll conducted by broadcaster MBC, 58 percent of the respondents picked Chung as their number one choice for the country's top economic hero.

Chung, the son of a poor farmer, is viewed as a classic case of rags-to-riches, and contributed much to South-North economic cooperation before his death in March 2001.

Chung was followed in the poll by Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-hee, who received 21 percent of the votes. Lee's late father and founder of Samsung, Lee Byung-chul, came third with 12 percent of the total votes.

Fourth and fifth spots went to former Daewoo Group Chairman Kim Woo-Joong and Seoul mayor Lee Byung-bak.