Dong-Bin Shin ’81, a member of Columbia Business School’s Board of Overseers, has donated $4 million to the School to establish the Dong-Bin Shin Scholarship.
In explaining his gift, Shin expressed a desire to help others gain access to a top-notch education. “What I learned during my time at Columbia and the people I’ve met through the alumni network have helped me tremendously during my business career,” Shin said. “I want to help talented people with high potential get the same advantages that I received.”
Shin is Chairman of the Lotte Group, a South Korea– and Japan-based diversified company that currently comprises more than 70 companies in industries including everything from candy and ice cream, manufacturing, retail, entertainment, petro-chemicals, real estate development, and financial services.
The Lotte Group has major operations worldwide, including in China, the Philippines, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Russia, among other locations. Although Lotte is already a well-known brand throughout Asia, Shin also expressed a desire to raise the company’s profile in other areas. To that end, in recognition of Shin’s generosity, the Dong-Bin Shin ’81 and Lotte Classroom will be established at the School’s new Manhattanville facilities.
Shin earned a BA from Aoyama Gakuin University in Tokyo in 1977 and an MBA from Columbia four years later. He serves on the board of trustees of the Asia Society and is chairman of the board of directors of the Asia Society Korea Center. An avid supporter of the School, has also been hosting and sponsoring the Chazen Institute’s annual Study Tour to South Korea for several years.
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