[Edaily kim mi-kyung Reporter Shin Min-jun] HITEJINRO is implementing a voluntary retirement program for employees with 15 or more years of service. This marks the first such program in four years since 2022. The move is seen as a response to stagnant growth in the domestic liquor market, changes in consumer behavior, and increasing domestic and international business uncertainties.

According to industry sources on the 11th, HITEJINRO(000080)will accept applications for voluntary retirement from employees with 15 or more years of service from today through the 25th. The company will accept applications only from those who wish to participate and will determine eligible candidates following a review process.

In addition to severance pay, the company will provide a consolation payment equivalent to 20 months’ salary for employees with 15 to 19 years of service, and 36 months’ salary for those with 20 or more years of service. The company plans to continue supporting key welfare programs even after retirement.

This is HITEJINRO’s first voluntary retirement program since 2022. At that time, applications were also accepted from employees with 15 or more years of service, and the severance pay was set at 34 months’ worth of regular wages for those with 15 to 19 years of service and 40 months’ worth for those with 20 or more years of service. The company also provided one year of tuition support for college-aged children and startup support loans of up to 500 million won after retirement.

A HITEJINRO official stated, “Amid stagnant growth in the domestic liquor market, changing consumer trends, and increasing domestic and international business uncertainties, we are striving to secure a stable revenue base and strengthen our future competitiveness through various business improvement initiatives.”

The spokesperson added, “This voluntary retirement program was designed to establish a sustainable business environment and foster future growth through more fundamental improvements, while also enabling employees to prepare for the next chapter of their lives.”