[Alpha Biz= Reporter Kim Sangjin] Lotte Ria is currently facing a crisis after being linked to a mock martial law plot, which has quickly spread as a meme across social media.
According to industry reports on the 18th, a Lotte Ria store located in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, has been identified as the location of the mock martial law plot. This has led to hundreds of mocking reviews being posted on map applications, with comments such as "Martial Law Set Launch" rapidly gaining traction online.
The controversy began with the announcement on the 17th by the National Police Agency’s Special Investigation Team, which revealed that former intelligence chief Noh Sang-won and current intelligence chief Moon Sang-ho had met at the Lotte Ria store on the 1st with two colonels from the National Intelligence Service (NIS) to plan a martial law scenario.
The situation is made worse by the fact that this isn't the first time a Lotte Ria store has been linked to such a controversy. During the 2013 treason plot involving former Unified Progressive Party lawmaker Lee Seok-gi, a Lotte Ria store was also named as a meeting location for the conspirators.
A crisis management expert noted, "Even if it's a coincidence, when a specific brand is repeatedly associated with political events, it can negatively affect consumer perception."
Lotte Ria has expressed discomfort regarding the incident, with a company representative stating, "It is merely a regular store unrelated to political issues." They further emphasized that rumors of "martial law-related new product launches" circulating on social media are entirely false.
Meanwhile, a parody of a "Neran Burger" created using generative AI has been spreading on social media, suggesting the company’s troubles will continue for the foreseeable future.
Alphabiz Reporter Kim SangJin(letyou@alphabiz.co.kr)
