Lotte Mart, Lotte Super wrap up ESG-linked rural experience program

Lotte Mart and Lotte Super held a family rural experience program for employees in Yeongwol-gun, Gangwon Province, on July 4 and 5.

The program is part of "Sangsaeng Ssiat," an ESG (environmental, social and governance) initiative the two retailers are pursuing. It was designed to help employees and their families appreciate the value of domestic produce and eco-friendly farming while fostering a sense of mutual growth with local rural communities. A total of 46 employees and family members took part.

Over the two-day, one-night program, participants explored the value of farm produce and healthy food. They visited Still Farm, an eco-friendly tomato farm in Jucheon-myeon, Yeongwol-gun, where they learned about sustainable agriculture through explanations of organic cultivation methods and soil management, and harvested several varieties of eco-friendly tomatoes themselves.

The group also visited Yoseon Village, a rural tourism village in Mureungdowon-myeon, Yeongwol-gun, where they enjoyed a range of hands-on activities — digging up potatoes, making mugwort rice cakes and roasting corn over an open fire.

"We will continue to pursue a variety of ESG activities that support the sustainable growth of young farmers and spread the value of mutual growth with farming communities," said Seo Ju-yeon, a manager on the ESG organizational culture team at Lotte Mart and Lotte Super.