The entrepreneurial spirit of the late Shin Kyuk-ho, founder of Lotte Group, was spotlighted at an international academic conference.
Lotte announced on August 3 that a study analyzing Shin's entrepreneurial spirit and the growth of Lotte Group was presented at the '2026 World Business History Conference' held in Toronto on July 30.
Now in its third year, the World Business History Conference took place at the University of Toronto from July 27 to 31, attracting over 400 researchers from more than 40 countries. The event featured approximately 90 sessions and workshops related to finance, retail, manufacturing, and multinational corporations.
The research was presented by Professor Baek In-soo of Osaka University of Economics, who focused on 'Boundaryless Competitive Advantage: A Dynamic Study of Shin Kyuk-ho's Entrepreneurial Journey Across Borders.' Professor Baek had previously studied Shin's entrepreneurial spirit in 2023 under the theme 'Pioneer of Boundaryless Markets, Lotte Shin Kyuk-ho.'
In his presentation, Professor Baek reinterpreted Shin's process of growing Lotte by utilizing the concept of boundaryless competitive advantage. This concept refers to the ability to combine knowledge and resources acquired from different fields, transcending specific countries, industries, or organizations, to create new business opportunities.
The study divided Shin's life into four stages: youth, early and late middle age, and old age, analyzing the boundaries he faced and how he overcame them during each period.
It particularly noted that his interests and experiences in diverse fields such as literature, politics, industry, and organization significantly influenced Lotte Group's business expansion and competitiveness.
Shin began his business in Japan with a gum venture and later expanded into food, retail, tourism, and chemicals.
The study also drew implications for modern managers, suggesting that they should learn expertise beyond their boundaries and integrate it into their organizations while nurturing successors and future talent with a long-term perspective.
Following the presentation, there were suggestions to develop research comparing Shin's entrepreneurial spirit with cases of multinational entrepreneurs from other countries. Professor Krautcher from Graz University in Austria requested to share the presentation materials and proposed the possibility of international comparative research.
Professor Baek stated, “Shin Kyuk-ho's entrepreneurial spirit can provide a direction for sustainable growth for today's entrepreneurs. Those aspiring to start a business should continuously learn about new opportunities in the AI era, cultivate excellent talent, and contribute to society and the future.”
* This article has been translated by AI.
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