Amid soaring gold prices , companies maintain gold reward for long - term workers Lotte Department Store , a leading retailer , has maintained a unique reward system for long - term employees for more than 20 years ― offering a gold nugget . Starting with the 10 dons of gold given to workers who have worked for 10 years , the company rewards them with an additional five dons of pure gold every five years . “ Don ” is a Korean measure equivalent to 3 . 75 grams . Employees , of course , are allowed to choose between gold and other benefits equal in value such as flight tickets for overseas travel and gift cards . “ Amid runaway gold prices recently , an overwhelming number of employees opt for gold , ” said a Lotte Group official . “ In these days when career transfer is easy and frequent , we want to offer motivation for workers to stay longer . ” Lotte is one of Korean companies that have kept the gold reward tradition for many years . Amid growing pressure following a surge in gold prices , some companies are considering replacing the policy with cash or other welfare benefits . But many of them have recently decided to go ahead with the policy , saying “ gold has become a strong motivation . ” In the past when gold prices were 50 , 000 won ( $ 46 . 56 ) per don , gold items offered to long - term employees by companies were largely considered less than a souvenir . With gold prices soaring almost five - fold in a decade , however , Korean workers feel really rewarding about the reward policy . As of Monday , the retail price of 1 - don pure gold was 251 , 900 won , according to Korea Gold Exchange . Hyundai Engineering and Construction has offered a golden metal worth up to 35 dons of gold starting with the workers with 10 years of career . The market value of the 35 - don gold medal would amount to 8 . 75 million won . POSCO Engineering and Construction gives a plaque made of 1 to 5 dons of pure gold , while Samsung Corporation offers a golden necklace . “ Considering the contribution that employees with 10 years of career have made to the company , companies seem not to feel so much pressure ( about giving them gold ) , ” an industry source said . “ Gold has a symbolic meaning and there ’ s no better substitute to replace it for now . ” Food conglomerate SPC Group has recently decided to maintain the tradition of offering gold rings . Instead , the company was considering securing gold when the prices are cheaper . E - Mart and Shinsegae Department Store , both retail units of Shinsegae Group , also said they will continue its gold reward policy despite further increase in gold prices . Hyundai Motors has provided gold medals to long - term employees following the conditions set by the collective bargaining with the union . Korea Express , the nation ’ s largest logistics company , rewards long - term workers with gold rings and medals for workers of 20 and 25 years of work , respectively . “ It ’ s a long - held promise with employees . We will stick to the policy if possible , ” said the Lotte official , adding that even during the 1997 - 8 financial crisis here when gold prices skyrocketed , the company did not abandon the policy . By Lee Ji - yoon ( jylee @ heraldm . com )