[Edaily Reporter KYUNG GYEYOUNG ] Lotte announced on the 15th that it will hold the “2026 Second-Half Lotte VCM” (Value Creation Meeting) at Lotte World Tower in Jamsil, Seoul.

Held twice a year—once in the first half and once in the second half—the Lotte VCM is a forum where approximately 80 people, including Lotte Chairman Shin Dong-bin, Lotte Corporation(004990) CEOs and division heads, and CEOs of each affiliate, gather to discuss the group’s management policies and mid- to long-term strategies.

At this second-half VCM, Lotte will review its first-half business performance and share key management policies for achieving its second-half goals. Artificial Intelligence Transformation (AX) is expected to be a major topic of discussion. Earlier, Chairman Shin emphasized at the “CEO AI Academy” last month that “AX is no longer an option but has become the group’s top priority, on which its very survival depends.”

Prior to the VCM, an “AI Agent Exhibition” will be held to showcase the group’s progress and case studies on AX. The exhibition will feature about 10 Agent AI systems developed for practical application, including voice- and motion-recognition-based AI assistants, as well as tools for price monitoring, demand forecasting, and global market outlook analysis.

Notably, futurist and management consultant Doug Stephens will deliver a keynote speech at this VCM. This marks the first time Lotte has invited an international speaker to the VCM. Drawing on his experience in formulating strategies for leading global companies, Doug Stephens plans to share insights with Lotte’s executives on evolving AI trends and the global market.

In addition, Noh Jun-hyung and Ko Jeong-wook, co-CEOs of Lotte Corporation, will present the group’s management and financial strategies for the second half of the year, respectively, while the heads of major affiliates in the food, retail, chemicals, and hotel sectors will propose plans to enhance competitiveness by focusing on the core of their respective businesses. They also plan to discuss strategies for sustainable growth through profitability-focused management amid uncertain domestic and international conditions.

The VCM will conclude with Chairman Shin’s group management guidelines for the second half of the year, along with his message on the role and leadership of a CEO. Earlier, at the VCM for the first half of the year, Chairman Shin declared a shift toward profitability-based management, stating, “We cannot solve the problems we are currently facing without breaking away from the familiar and embracing change.”