Over 50 Years and More Than 70 Projects... The Life of the Late Shin Kyuk-ho, Who Dreamed of Complex Development in Korea

Book, Scheduled for Mid-June Release

[Asia Economy Reporter Minyoung Cha] A book by Chairman Okuno Sho, who closely observed the life of the late Honorary Chairman Shin Kyuk-ho, founder of Lotte Group, while working together on more than 70 real estate development projects over 50 years, will be published in mid-next month.

Lotte Group announced on the 1st that it will publish 'Shin Kyuk-ho's Challenge and Dream =- Lotte World and Tower,' which deals with the history of founder Shin Kyuk-ho and Lotte from the perspective of 'spatial development,' in collaboration with architect Chairman Okuno Sho.

The author, Okuno Sho, chairman of the Okuno Sho Architectural Research Institute, was responsible for designing the themes and concepts of Lotte Group's domestic and international projects, including Lotte Town in Sogong-dong, Seoul, Jamsil Lotte World, and Lotte World Tower, over 50 years with founder Shin Kyuk-ho. He is also well-versed in Korean culture and sentiment and participated in establishing regeneration plans for Seoul's Seosunra-gil and Gyeongdong and Yakryeong markets.

In the book, Chairman Okuno Sho conveyed that founder Shin wanted to create a 'space where families can spend a day together.' Based on this philosophy, the book covers how Lotte's representative architectural structures were built. It also includes pictorials of design plans, sketches, and conceptual drawings planned through more than 70 projects over the past 50 years.

Chairman Okuno introduces, as an objective observer, the courage and challenges of founder Shin Kyuk-ho, who overcame numerous oppositions and difficulties with each new project to complete Sogong-dong Lotte Town, which became the center of Seoul in the 1970s, the world's largest indoor theme park Jamsil Lotte World, and the landmark of Seoul, Lotte World Tower.

The book also contains untold stories of the late founder Shin's unfulfilled dreams. He personally engaged in big deal negotiations with then real estate developer and U.S. President Donald Trump to build a complex including an indoor theme park, hotel, and department store in the heart of New York. He also had plans to build an indoor theme park similar to Korea's Lotte World right next to Tokyo Disneyland to compete. The book also shares personal aspects of Chairman Shin Kyuk-ho.

Okuno said, "I introduced episodes that reveal the decisive moments of founder Shin Kyuk-ho's determination, which led challenges criticized as 'reckless' and 'beyond common sense' to success, and his rich humanity that attracted talented people who became the driving force behind business promotion," adding, "I hope readers can gain some understanding of the traces of the founder's pursued dreams."

Shin Dong-bin, the second son of founder Shin and chairman of Lotte Group, wrote in the recommendation, "He realized the concept of complex development, which no one could imagine at the time, into actual spaces, creating places filled with communication and love that transcend generations, which became an energy that creates happiness," and added, "I hope the courage and challenge of my father, founder Shin Kyuk-ho, will be conveyed to everyone who reads this book."

Meanwhile, in March, Lotte published 'Have You Been There?' a collection of founder Shin Kyuk-ho's sayings for employees at the Lotte Human Resources Development Institute, and plans to continuously produce memoirs and videos commemorating the founder's achievements.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.