Lotte Group is taking steps to address the low birth rate issue and improve child care environments.
The company announced that it is hosting the 'Lotte Mom-Friendly Festival' from May 19 to 21 at Seoul City Hall's lawn in collaboration with the Green Umbrella Children's Foundation and the Community Chest of Korea.
This event marks the 10th anniversary of Lotte Group's flagship social contribution initiative, 'Mom-Friendly.' It is designed as a festival where citizens can actively participate and experience the value of child care.
The opening ceremony featured Lotte Holdings Communication Director Im Seong-bok, Community Chest of Korea President Yoon Yeo-jun, Green Umbrella Children's Foundation President Hwang Young-ki, Permanent Committee Member of the Low Birth Rate and Aging Society Committee Park Jin-kyung, and Seoul Deputy Mayor Park Chan-goo.
During the event, Lotte announced a donation of 500 million won to the Green Umbrella Children's Foundation and the Community Chest of Korea to help combat the low birth rate crisis and improve conditions in child care facilities.
The festival is organized into four thematic zones: school routes, learning, play, and rest. Each area features a variety of programs, including child rights education, safety training, and creative experiences.
Since 2017, Lotte has focused on expanding child care infrastructure through initiatives like 'Mom-Friendly Dream Space' (100 locations) to improve after-school child protection facilities and 'Mom-Friendly Playgrounds' (32 locations) to create public indoor and outdoor play areas.
Starting this year, Lotte is broadening its efforts beyond facility support to include raising social awareness. On May 26, the company will hold the first 'Lotte Mom-Friendly Family Awards' ceremony, recognizing individuals and organizations that contribute to promoting healthy family culture, with a total prize of 120 million won.
Lotte also supports childbirth and parenting. The company has implemented a 'Mandatory Paternity Leave System,' requiring male employees to take at least one month of parental leave within two years of their spouse's childbirth. Last year, the usage rates were 96% at Lotte Hi-Mart, 71% at Lotte Holdings, and 70% at Lotte Shopping.
A Lotte official stated, "We will continue to lead efforts to raise social awareness to overcome the low birth rate crisis and strive to create an environment where children can grow up healthy."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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