Founder of South Korea’s Lotte business dynasty dies at 97


Shin Kyuk-ho built Lotte into the nation’s fifth-largest chaebol by assets, a group of 95 companies in businesses from department stores to petrochemicals and the Lotte Giants baseball team in the southeastern city of Busan. - Reuters

SEOUL: Shin Kyuk-ho, a wartime migrant to Japan who returned home to build a little-known chewing-gum maker into Lotte Group, South Korea’s biggest retailer, has died. He was 97.

Shin had been hospitalised in Seoul to get medical treatment for various age-related symptoms and passed away Sunday at 4.29pm, Lotte Group said in a statement.

The Star Christmas Special Promo: Save 35% OFF Yearly. T&C applies.

Monthly Plan

RM 13.90/month

Best Value

Annual Plan

RM 12.33/month

RM 8.02/month

Billed as RM 96.20 for the 1st year, RM 148 thereafter.

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!
Shin , Lotte Founder , Dead at 97

Next In Regional

China's smaller manufacturers look to catch the automation wave
China public servants use face masks to bypass facial recognition to help each other skip work
Taiwan RedNote ban backfires, driving mainland Chinese app’s top download rise
Chinese smart glasses firms eye overseas conquest
India says mandatory phone app can be deleted after backlash
120,000 home cameras were hacked for sexual videos, South Korean police say
Asean News Headlines at 10pm on Monday (Dec 01, 2025)
Hong Kong govt pledges free housing for Tai Po victims until homes are rebuilt
Hong Kong leader John Lee pays tribute to firefighter killed in Tai Po blaze
Beer giant Asahi not engaging with hackers after cyberattack

Others Also Read