Lotte Department Store said on the 20th that it will sign a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs to promote a culture of honoring veterans in everyday life.
The signing ceremony will be held the same day at the Seoul Regional Office of Patriots and Veterans Affairs. Attendees include Lotte Department Store CEO Chung Hyun-suk, Communications Division Head Lee Sung-hyun and Veterans Affairs Minister Kwon Oh-eul.
The two sides will build a cooperation framework to spread veterans-honoring culture in daily life and will work together to identify, produce and support related content. Lotte Department Store also plans to design campaigns that customers can take part in.
The agreement extends the retailer's existing social contribution work tied to veterans affairs. Lotte Department Store has previously held charity bazaars and benefit concerts for independence activists, donating sales proceeds to people recognized for national merit. It has also run a design competition featuring An Jung-geun and sponsored the memorial foundation for Yun Bong-gil.
Starting this year, the company has extended support to the emotional recovery of soldiers injured during military service and to improving public perception of them. Since March, Lotte Department Store has provided rehearsal space to an orchestra made up of injured soldiers, supporting emotional healing and social exchange through music.
"Remembering the noble sacrifice and courage of those recognized for national merit, and sharing those values with future generations, is a responsibility we all share," Chung said. "Using this agreement as a starting point, Lotte Department Store will actively support various campaigns that spread a culture of honoring veterans in daily life and help people reflect on its meaning."