This is the article if y'all wanna read.
http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20180129000755
http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20180129000755
Maybe there weren't any decent new Korean models released that year. Most awards only go to new models.^ The Camry won the award a # of years ago (didn't think it was deserving), so not entirely biased.
The fact that awarding Car of the Year to a Japanese car came as a "huge blow/shock" to Hyundai only highlights the fact that they "expect" the award to be go to a Korean auto company. I wonder if those journalists (or whomever) that voted for Camry still have their jobs?This was a huge blow/shock to Hyundai.