Shin Young-ja, the formidable chairperson of the Lotte Foundation and a pioneering figure in South Korea’s business landscape, passed away on February 21, 2026, at the age of 85. Her death, which occurred at Severance Hospital in Sinchon, Seoul, marks the end of an era for both the Lotte Group and the broader world of Korean commerce and philanthropy. Surrounded by her children in her final moments, Shin leaves behind a legacy that spans decades of innovation, leadership, and social contribution.
Born in 1942 to Shin Kyuk-ho, the late honorary chairman and founder of Lotte Group, and No Soon-hwa, who passed away in 1951, Shin Young-ja was the eldest daughter in a family that would go on to shape the contours of South Korea’s retail and hospitality industries. According to 이로운넷 and JoongAng Ilbo, Shin was widely recognized as a key architect in the group’s meteoric rise, particularly within its distribution businesses. Her fingerprints are all over the remarkable growth of Lotte Hotel, Lotte Department Store, and Lotte Duty Free, each of which achieved top-tier status under her stewardship.
Shin’s career began in the 1970s when she joined Hotel Lotte, quickly distinguishing herself with her sharp acumen and steady leadership. By 2008, she had ascended to the role of president at Lotte Shopping, placing her at the helm of Lotte’s department store and duty-free operations. Notably, she was credited with introducing Korea’s first duty-free shop, a move that not only expanded the group’s business portfolio but also changed the face of the nation’s retail sector. 이로운넷 described her as the “godmother” of the distribution industry, a moniker that stuck thanks to her reputation for outstanding management and her ability to steer complex organizations through times of rapid change.
But Shin’s influence extended far beyond boardrooms and balance sheets. From 2009 onward, she devoted much of her energy to social contribution, becoming the inaugural chairperson of the Lotte Samdong Welfare Foundation. In 2012, she took on further responsibility as the 2nd and 3rd chairperson of both the Lotte Scholarship Foundation and the Lotte Welfare Foundation. In these roles, she championed initiatives focused on nurturing young talent and supporting marginalized communities. The Lotte Foundation itself highlighted her “strong commitment to youth talent development, support for marginalized groups, and aid to Ulsan, the hometown of Shin Kyuk-ho.”
Over the past 40 years, the Lotte Foundation has distributed approximately 250 billion KRW (about $190 million USD) in support to some 520,000 people, a testament to Shin’s enduring dedication to giving back. According to ZDNet Korea, this tradition of philanthropy has now spanned three generations, with Shin’s eldest daughter, Jang Hye-sun, taking over as chairperson of the Lotte Scholarship Foundation and the Lotte Samdong Welfare Foundation in 2023. Even after stepping down from day-to-day management, Shin continued to advise the foundations, ensuring a seamless transition and the preservation of her father’s founding vision.
Shin’s later years were marked by a conscious distancing from the direct management of Lotte’s corporate empire. As reported by JoongAng Ilbo, she recently sold off most of her shares in key Lotte affiliates, including Lotte Holdings, Lotte Shopping, and Lotte Chilsung Beverage. This move signaled her intent to focus exclusively on foundation work and social contribution, a decision that underscored her belief in the importance of legacy and service over personal gain. Those close to her say she poured her heart into these causes, working tirelessly to expand programs for youth development and support for the underprivileged, particularly in the Ulsan region, which held special significance as her father’s birthplace.
Her influence within the Lotte Group was not just a matter of birthright. Shin Young-ja was consistently praised for her hands-on approach and her willingness to innovate. She was often cited as a role model for second-generation business leaders, breaking new ground in an industry traditionally dominated by men. Her leadership style was both decisive and compassionate, blending a keen sense for business with an unwavering commitment to social responsibility. As 이로운넷 put it, she was “recognized for her outstanding management skills among second-generation business leaders.”
The news of her passing has prompted an outpouring of tributes from across the business and charitable sectors. The Lotte Foundation, in an official statement, noted, “Shin poured great effort into social contribution projects, especially those supporting youth talent and marginalized groups, and paid special attention to Ulsan, her father’s hometown.” Her legacy, they added, would live on through the countless lives touched by the foundation’s work.
Shin is survived by her four children, including her eldest daughter, Jang Hye-sun, who now carries the torch as chairperson of the Lotte Scholarship Foundation. The family held a three-day funeral at the Severance Hospital funeral hall, with Jang serving as chief mourner. The ceremony was conducted as a ‘Lotte Foundation funeral,’ reflecting Shin’s lifelong commitment to the organization and its mission. She was laid to rest at Hannam Park Cemetery in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, a final resting place befitting someone who left such a profound mark on her country’s social and economic fabric.
For those who knew her, Shin Young-ja’s passing is more than just the end of a storied career. It is the closing of a chapter in South Korea’s corporate and philanthropic history, one defined by vision, perseverance, and a deep sense of duty. Her life’s work—nurturing talent, supporting the vulnerable, and building institutions that endure—continues to ripple outward, shaping the future in ways both seen and unseen.
Shin Young-ja’s legacy is not simply a matter of numbers or accolades. It is written in the stories of the young people whose educations she helped fund, the communities uplifted by her generosity, and the family members and colleagues who learned from her example. As the Lotte Foundation moves forward under new leadership, the values she championed remain firmly at its core, ensuring that her spirit of service and innovation will not be forgotten.