A view of a Doctor Xylitol Bus providing dental care services in the Pohang area by Lotte Confectionary  to ease the minds of the people following an earthquake that hit the area on Nov. 15 with heavy losses to properties.

Lotte Confectionary Co. donated packages of confectionary products worth 80 billion won to needy families in and around Pohang, which was designated a disaster area after the Nov. 15 earthquake. The confectionary products donated through the Red Cross included items such as custard and others that can substitute for foods.

The company also provided dental care to poor families in the area under its Doctor Xylitol Bus Program, with dentists visiting providing dental care in the hope that assistance would ease the minds of those anguished by the earthquake that hit the area on Nov. 15.

The confectionary company has been providing its social service activities throughout the year, either through donations or direct action, with representative services provided around the Sweet Home, a local children’s center and the Doctor Xylitol Bus Program for dental care services.

A number of executives and staff of Lotte Confectionary pose for a photo session to celebrate the completion of Sweet Home in Yeonggwang, South Jeolla Province, recently.(Photos: Lotte Confectionary)

The Sweet Home observed its 5th anniversary this year since the first Sweet Home was installed in Wanju, North Jeolla Province, in 2013. That was followed by Yechon, North Gyeongsang Province; Yongwol, Gangwon Province; Hongseong, South Chungcheong Province; and Yongkwang, South Jeolla Province. 

The company got help from the group Save the Children, an NGO. Each Sweet Home in the country will operate from the profits Pepero, popular chocolate covered sticks. Sweet Homes are usually set up for youth to access after school in areas not economically well off, usually in fishing and farm areas, as places for rest and to do homework.

The Doctor Xylitol Bus is being run with the help from the Korea Dental Association, which is dedicated to providing free dental care services. With dentists on board, the bus has visited some 50 locations so far to provide dental care services since 2013 when it was first kicked off treating some 4,000 dental patients. The company has also been busy conducting social service activities involving the donations of confectionary products with organizations including Pepero and Ghana chocolate bars since 2013.

The company has been donating money to charity organizations since 2013, with donations coming to a whopping 10.3 percent of the company’s annual operating profit, the most among food companies in the country. The employees of the company have been holding their own charity services each year since 2005 under the name “Ham Happiness.” 

The program includes the delivery of food and coal briquettes to poor neighborhoods twice monthly.

As a result of the company’s diverse charity services, the company won the Korea Sharing Grand Award Presidential Citation this year. President Kim Yong-soo said the company will double up on its charity services to the isolated neighbors in the days ahead to share more love with them.

Lotte Group on Nov. 17 donated 1 billion won to the Community Chest of Korea to help victims of the recent earthquake in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province.

"We hope our donation will help speed up recovery efforts after the disaster", a Lotte spokesman said. 

LOTTE Confectionery operates ultra-modern dormitories and welfare centers at each production facility in an effort to help everybody feel at home in the workplace.

Also, various hobby clubs exist within the corporation, nurturing a communal spirit and creating a sound and healthy corporate culture. Besides such activities within the company, support to senior citizen's, the physically and mentally disadvantaged, children's homes and various other social institutions. LOTTE Confectionery also participates in sending relief supplies to countries struck with famine.