Lotte Department Store Apologizes Over Union Vest Incident

Lotte Department Store has issued a public apology after a customer was asked to remove a labor union vest inside one of its Seoul branches, an incident that sparked online backlash and renewed debate over workers’ rights in South Korea.The controversy happened earlier this week at Lotte’s Jamsil branch in southern Seoul, when a security guard approached a customer wearing a union vest and asked him to take it off. A video of the exchange was recorded by witnesses and quickly spread on social media, drawing criticism from labor groups and the general public.According to Lotte, the customer was part of a group of union members who entered the department store after attending a nearby rally. The security staff reportedly told them that the vest could make other shoppers uncomfortable, prompting the request to remove it. The union members refused and continued their activities inside the store, including dining at the food court.As public reaction intensified, Lotte Department Store released an official apology through its chief executive officer. The company said it was “deeply sorry for the inconvenience and concern caused” and admitted that the response by security personnel was inappropriate.Lotte clarified that it does not have any internal policy that bans customers from wearing union-related clothing inside its stores. The company said the incident stemmed from an individual judgment by security staff, not from a company-wide directive.“We recognize that the handling of this situation was improper,” Lotte said in its statement, adding that it will review customer service guidelines and strengthen training for security and frontline staff to prevent similar incidents in the future.Labor groups and activists welcomed the apology but stressed that the issue goes beyond one store or one guard. They said union expression is protected under South Korean law and warned that such actions could discourage workers from exercising their legal rights.Following the incident, some labor activists visited other Lotte branches wearing union vests in solidarity, calling on large corporations to respect labor rights in public and commercial spaces.The episode has reignited a broader discussion in South Korea about the balance between private business policies and constitutional protections for freedom of expression and union activity. Legal experts noted that while private establishments can enforce reasonable rules, they must avoid actions that could be seen as discriminatory or suppressing lawful expression.For Lotte, one of South Korea’s largest retail groups, the incident serves as a reminder of the sensitivity surrounding labor issues and the impact of viral social media content on corporate reputation.The company said it remains committed to respecting customers’ rights and ensuring that its stores remain welcoming to all.