SEOUL -- A Japanese business figure acquainted with Shin Kyuk-ho would never forget the look on his face as the Lotte group founder expressed regret about being unable to create an integrated steelmaker.
Shin, known as Takeo Shigemitsu in Japan, died Sunday at the age of 98 after building an empire that spanned candy, hotels, department stores and petrochemicals. Steel was one area that eluded the grasp of his chaebol, one of South Korea's family-run conglomerates.
