Food Safety Standards Elevated at Lotte Outlets and Department Stores
Seoul, September 4th – The Ministry of Food and drug Safety (KFDA) today recognized 41 locations, including branches of Lotte Department Store and Lotte Premium outlet, as official “Food Safety Areas” during a ceremony held at Lotte World Mall in Seoul. This initiative underscores a commitment to public health and confidence in dining experiences.
The designation stems from the KFDA’s restaurant hygiene rating system, which evaluates establishments based on operator applications and awards grades of “very excellent,” “excellent,” or “good” to those meeting high standards. The program aims to educate the public on the critical importance of food safety and preventing food poisoning, while concurrently driving improvements in hygiene practices across the restaurant industry.
“This designation represents a successful partnership between the public and private sectors, focused on enhancing hygiene standards in high-traffic facilities used by approximately 160 million people each year,” stated Oh Yoo-kyung, head of the KFDA, during the ceremony.
Shin Nam-sun, Lotte Department Store’s head of safety management, affirmed the company’s dedication to customer well-being. “Lotte Department Store prioritizes complete food safety management to ensure a secure and trustworthy experience for our customers. We are committed to maintaining a consistently safe shopping and dining environment.”
Ahn Yu-sung, the event’s ambassador for sanitation and food poisoning prevention, emphasized a fundamental principle: “Hygiene is the cornerstone of a safe and enjoyable dining experience.”
Oh Yoo-kyung personally presented hygiene designation boards to businesses recognized for their efforts, expressing gratitude for their dedication to maintaining high standards. The KFDA intends to build on this momentum by expanding the program to include more restaurants, further bolstering public trust in the safety of eating out. As of August 8, 2025, 32 food safety areas have been established nationwide.
