Lotte Corporation said on the 26th that Chairman Shin Dong-bin of Lotte Group visited Hanoi, Vietnam, from the 21st to the 24th and began his first overseas on-site management of the year.
According to Lotte Corporation that day, Shin on the 23rd received reports on the business status of major affiliates that have entered Vietnam, including Lotte Department Store, Lotte Mart, and Lotte Hotel, and inspected the site at Lotte Mall Westlake Hanoi. Shin Yoo-yeol, head of future growth at Lotte Corporation and Shin's eldest son, also joined the visit.
Lotte Mall Westlake is a large mixed-use mall that opened in September 2023, housing major group affiliates such as Lotte Department Store, Lotte Mart, Lotte Hotel, and Lotte World Aquarium. It has drawn a cumulative 30 million visitors through last month and is being recognized as a successful model of "K-retail." Cumulative sales reached 600 billion won as of the end of last year.
Shin said, "Vietnam is a key country for the group's global business, and I find it very encouraging that we are maintaining growth in our core businesses such as food and retail," adding, "While further strengthening market competitiveness in our existing core businesses, please also push ahead with pioneering new businesses such as advanced city construction, eco-friendly materials, and advanced logistics."
He also continued efforts to cooperate in local culture and sports. Shin visited a promotional hall for the youth soccer entertainment TV program "Cau Thu Nhi," set up inside Lotte Mall Westlake. Cau Thu Nhi is a TV program that Lotte has co-planned and produced with Vietnam's state broadcaster VTV since 2011. At the event, Shin also met Kim Sang-sik, head coach of the Vietnam national soccer team.
During an inspection of Lotte Mall Westlake Hanoi, Shin also met and exchanged greetings with first lady Kim Hea-kyung, who visited the K-Culture and Tourism Expo exhibition hall to promote Korean culture.
Earlier on the 22nd, he met with key Vietnamese figures, including Vu Dai Thang, chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee, To Lam, general secretary and presidential aide, and others, to discuss urban development and investment cooperation plans.