First-Ever Two-Day Meeting... Lotte Focuses on "Strengthening Fundamental Competitiveness" at Second-Half VCM

Lotte Executives Discuss Management Strategies Led by Chairman Shin Dongbin
Participants Hold Meeting on "Group's Mid- to Long-Term Growth Strategies"

Lotte Group executives gathered under the leadership of Chairman Shin Dongbin to discuss management strategies for the second half of the year. Amid a consensus that both internal and external conditions are more challenging than ever?due to factors such as domestic market stagnation and liquidity crisis rumors that surfaced at the end of last year?the group, for the first time, scheduled a two-day, one-night meeting to seek ways to strengthen competitiveness.

Shin Dongbin, Chairman of Lotte Group. Photo by Lotte

According to Lotte Group on July 17, the '2025 Second Half Lotte VCM (Value Creation Meeting, formerly the Executives' Meeting)' was held over two days at the Lotte Human Resources Development Institute Osan Campus. During the event, participants reviewed each company's performance for the first half of the year and shared operational guidelines for the second half. More than 80 people attended the second-half VCM, including Chairman Shin, his eldest son Shin Yooyeol (Executive Vice President and Head of Future Growth at Lotte Holdings), as well as the CEO and division heads of Lotte Holdings, business group leaders, and affiliate CEOs.

The Lotte VCM is held twice each year, in January (first half) and July (second half). The first-half meeting reviews the previous year’s management performance and shares the current year’s management goals. The second-half meeting examines first-half results and communicates detailed strategies for achieving targets in the latter half. Previous VCMs were held as single-day events at venues such as Lotte Hotel World in Jamsil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, but this year, for the first time, the meeting was extended to two days and one night. This change reportedly reflects a heightened sense of crisis due to increased uncertainty in the external business environment.

This year’s meeting was held privately with restricted external access and featured an external lecture on the theme “Brand, the Power to Move Consumers.” Presentations were given by the heads of Lotte’s major business groups?including food, retail, and chemicals?focusing on strategies to strengthen fundamental competitiveness.

For example, Lotte Future Strategy Research Institute presented innovation plans for sustainable growth, while Lotte Ventures discussed innovation through open collaboration with startups. Participants then held a meeting on “Group’s Mid- to Long-Term Growth Strategies.” Each business division shared trends and impacts in their respective industries, and in-depth discussions were held to break away from traditional success models and establish new directions that could transform industry paradigms.

Chairman Shin also delivered messages regarding the group’s management principles, the role of CEOs, and leadership. Earlier this year, in his New Year’s address, Chairman Shin emphasized, “To meet market expectations, we must carry out even more intensive reforms this year.” At the first-half VCM, he stated, “The group must efficiently leverage its assets through ‘selection and concentration’ to overcome current difficulties and use this as a turning point for major innovation,” calling for bold reforms.