The AEO certification award ceremony took place on 15 October at Seoul Customs headquarters.

Lotte Duty Free has successfully renewed its Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) certification from the Korea Customs Service.

The certification ceremony took place in Seoul on 15 October, with key attendees including Seoul Customs Director Ko Seok-jin and Shim Jae-woo, Head of Lotte Duty Free’s Operational Innovation Division.

The renewal marks the company’s second AEO certification since it first achieved such status as a Hotel Lotte corporation in 2015. Lotte Duty Free has since expanded its AEO credentials across all its subsidiaries – from Seoul and Busan in 2015 to Jeju in 2018 – achieving full certification coverage for all its corporate entities.

The AEO certification, based on World Customs Organisation standards, is a globally-recognised benchmark assessing import-export businesses on legal compliance, internal controls, financial stability, and security protocols. It is valid for five years.

Lotte Duty Free maintained an ‘AA grade’, reflecting its commitment to process optimisation, strategic investment in infrastructure, employee compliance training, and regular internal audits.

Shim Jae-woo commented: “This AEO recertification underscores Lotte Duty Free’s internationally trusted capabilities in import-export management and robust internal control systems. We remain committed to agile adaptation amid evolving global customs and logistics landscapes, through continuous system enhancements and comprehensive risk management.”

Beyond AEO, Lotte Duty Free also holds ISO 27001 (Information Security) and ISO 37301 (Compliance Management) certifications, reinforcing its leadership in logistics and regulatory compliance in the duty free industry.

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