Shin Dong-bin's 'Will to Empathize'... Lotte CEOs' Continued 'Love for Challenge'

Chairman Shin's 'Strong Will for Empathy and Coexistence'... Joining the "Thanks to You" Challenge Following the Ice Bucket Challenge
Prioritize the Environment in All Businesses... Good Company Project Fulfilling Social Responsibility

Jongkyungsoo, CEO of Lotte Food (third from the left in the bottom row), is participating in the #ThanksChallenge with employees and taking a photo together at the headquarters in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, on June 10.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Seon-ae] "A company that is not recognized by society and does not empathize with society cannot exist or grow." The vision of 'New Lotte,' led by Shin Dong-bin, Chairman of Lotte Group, after concluding the management rights dispute, includes being a 'company that empathizes with society.' In his New Year's address this year, he urged, "We must create a sustainable future through empathy (共感) and coexistence (共生)." In July last year, at a meeting with presidents, he first presented 'empathy' as a message about 'the path Lotte should take.' Defining corporate empathy as participating in solving social problems and taking responsibility, Chairman Shin has a firm determination that Lotte must gain empathy as a 'company that does good' from customers, employees, partners, and the social community, and be reborn as a socially meaningful good company.

To practice Lotte's social responsibility management, social empathy management by Lotte CEOs (Chief Executive Officers) is actively underway. On the 10th, Cho Kyung-soo, CEO of Lotte Food, and employees participated in the 'Thanks Challenge' to express gratitude and respect for medical staff dedicated to overcoming the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). The Thanks Challenge started in April through the Instagram of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters and is a public participation campaign encouraging medical staff treating COVID-19. Participants express gratitude and respect for medical staff in sign language through photos or videos, attach three hashtags #덕분에캠페인 (#ThanksCampaign), #덕분에챌린지 (#ThanksChallenge), #의료진덕분에 (#ThanksToMedicalStaff), and nominate the next participant to join.

CEO Cho said, "I extend deep thanks and respect to many people, including medical staff who are dedicated to preventing the spread of COVID-19," and added, "Lotte Food will also do its best to help end COVID-19 quickly." He nominated Lee Hoon-ki, CEO of Lotte Rental, and Kang Sung-hyun, CEO of Lotte Nestle Korea, as the next participants.

Earlier, Min Myung-gi, CEO of Lotte Confectionery, also participated in the 'Thanks Challenge' with employees and sent a message of support for the dedication and efforts of medical staff. He nominated Lee Kyung-hwon, Director of Lotte Central Research Institute, Choi Kyung-ho, CEO of Korai Seven, and Park Soo-young, CEO of PepsiCo Korea.

In April, a 'Helping Flower Farmers' campaign was also carried out. Hwang Kak-kyu, Vice Chairman of Lotte Holdings, participated in the 'Helping Flower Farmers Relay Campaign' to support flower farmers affected by the spread of COVID-19, delivering gifts along with bouquets purchased at Namdaemun Flower Market to partner company employees responsible for hygiene and quarantine at Lotte World Tower in Jamsil, Seoul. Lotte Group is actively stepping up to help farmers suffering from the dual hardships of export decline and consumption slump amid the COVID-19 crisis. A representative example is Lotte Mart's continuous events to support domestic agricultural, fishery, and livestock farmers in cooperation with local governments and related organizations.

Min Myung-ki, CEO of Lotte Confectionery (center front row), participating in the 'Ice Bucket Challenge' for ALS patients together with employees at the Yeongdeungpo factory.

Last year, participation in the 'Ice Bucket Challenge' was enthusiastic. The Ice Bucket Challenge is a social movement to raise awareness and encourage donations for patients with Lou Gehrig's disease, which causes muscle contraction. Starting with Lotte World in July 2018, the CEOs of Lotte Group affiliates such as Lotte Construction, Lotte Chilsung Beverage, and Lotte Food continued the relay by nominating the next participant. In May last year, CEO Min took over the baton as the 15th participant within the group. Afterwards, CEO Min nominated Jung Seung-in, CEO of Seven Eleven, who was followed by Kang Seung-ha, CEO of Lotte Members, and Ma Yong-deuk, CEO of Lotte Information & Communication.

Lotte Group's eco-friendly projects have also been fully launched this year. This is the first 'Good Company Project' following Chairman Shin's message that empathy must be gained. It reflects Chairman Shin's determination that prioritizing the environment in all businesses can earn empathy as a good company. The three key action tasks are ▲establishing a plastic circular system ▲expanding eco-friendly packaging ▲reducing food waste. Vice Chairman Hwang said, "It is an expression of the will to fulfill environmental responsibility at every stage," and added, "We will continue to propose ways to practice environmental values together and make efforts to have a positive impact on society."

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