Lotte Department Store signs veterans-culture MOU with Patriots and Veterans Ministry
In short
Lotte Department Store (롯데백화점) signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs (국가보훈부) on 20 October at the Seoul Regional Office of Patriots and Veterans Affairs. The two sides will cooperate on veterans-culture content and customer-participation campaigns aimed at younger people.
Read the full story 2 min read
Lotte Department Store (롯데백화점) signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs (국가보훈부) on 20 October, the company said. The agreement concerns creating and spreading veterans culture in everyday life. Two early reports, from Yonhap and Asia Economy, described the signing in the future tense, while later reports from Newsis, Seoul Economic Daily and Dong-A Ilbo said it had been concluded. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 ]
The ceremony took place at the Seoul Regional Office of Patriots and Veterans Affairs (서울지방보훈청). Newsis listed the attendees as Lotte Department Store chief executive Jung Hyun-seok (정현석), Lee Seong-hyeon (이성현), head of the company's communications division, Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Kwon Oh-eul (권오을), and Na Chi-man (나치만), head of the ministry's veterans culture policy office. [ 1 , 2 ]
Under the agreement the two sides will cooperate to build a social atmosphere that honours patriots and their bereaved families, and to discover, produce and support veterans-culture content, according to Newsis. Lotte also plans campaigns in which customers can take part, so that young people and future generations can encounter the value of veterans' service in a familiar way. Yonhap's ministry bulletin said the ministry would spread veterans culture through content and campaigns to raise veterans awareness. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
The outlets listed earlier Lotte activities in this area. They include the Nara Sarang bazaar (나라사랑 대바자회), whose sales proceeds are donated to patriots, a concert in support of independence patriots, a design contest for a symbol of Ahn Jung-geun, and support for a memorial society for Yun Bong-gil. Newsis, Asia Economy, Seoul Economic Daily and Dong-A Ilbo added that since March the company has given a practice space to an orchestra of soldiers injured during military service. Newsis and Yonhap said this year's support for injured soldiers aims at their emotional recovery and better public awareness. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 ]
Jung Hyun-seok was quoted as saying: "Remembering the noble sacrifice and courage of patriots and sharing that value with future generations is the responsibility of all of us." He added that the company would actively support spreading everyday veterans culture through various campaigns so that the meaning of veterans' service could be recalled in daily life. [ 1 , 3 , 5 , 6 ]
Why it matters
The agreement links a retailer's existing veterans-related community programmes with a government ministry's effort to spread veterans culture in daily life. The documents give no budget or timetable, so its scale is not yet known.
Key facts
- Lotte Department Store and the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs agreed an MOU on creating and spreading veterans culture in daily life, announced on 20 October. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- The ceremony was held at the Seoul Regional Office of Patriots and Veterans Affairs (서울지방보훈청). [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 ]
- Lotte Department Store chief executive Jung Hyun-seok (정현석) and Minister Kwon Oh-eul (권오을) attended. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 ]
- The two sides will cooperate on discovering, producing and supporting veterans-culture content. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- Lotte plans customer-participation campaigns so that young people and others can encounter the value of veterans' service in a familiar way. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 ]
- Since March Lotte has given a practice space to an orchestra made up of soldiers injured during military service. [ 1 , 3 , 5 , 6 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Lotte Department Store and the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs concluded an MOU on veterans culture on 20 October. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- Lotte plans participatory campaigns for customers, with young people a stated target. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 ]
- Lotte has given practice space since March to an orchestra of soldiers injured during service. [ 1 , 3 , 5 , 6 ]
Still unclear
- Financial terms, the length of the agreement and the dates of the planned campaigns. None of the documents states them.
- Whether the ceremony had already taken place when the earliest reports were published. Two early reports use the future tense, while later reports say the MOU was signed; none gives the time of the ceremony.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Newsis and Yonhap report the MOU between Lotte Department Store and the ministry. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Asia Economy reports that the MOU is to be signed on 20 October at the Seoul Regional Office of Patriots and Veterans Affairs. [ 3 ]
- Yonhap's bulletin says the ministry signed the MOU with Lotte on the 20th. [ 4 ]
- Seoul Economic Daily reports that the MOU has been signed. [ 5 ]
- Dong-A Ilbo reports that the MOU has been signed. [ 6 ]