Finance ministry reviews Homeplus's 67-store reopening and support

The finance ministry said Friday it reviewed Homeplus's formal reopening of 67 stores on Aug. 13 and support for workers and smaller suppliers at an interagency task-force meeting held Aug. 14.

Homeplus used 200 billion won in emergency operating funds secured from Meritz Financial Group on Aug. 5 to pay unpaid wages and prepare for reopening. It held a temporary opening on Aug. 7 before formally reopening the stores.

Between the start of court rehabilitation on March 4, 2025, and Aug. 12, workers received 35.9 billion won through 24,648 cases of unemployment benefits and wage-arrears payments. Loans for workers totaled 41.9 billion won across 9,091 cases.

Government agencies supplied 11.6 billion won in emergency management funds to suppliers across 277 cases. Credit guarantees from the Korea Credit Guarantee Fund and Korea Technology Finance Corp. totaled 48.4 billion won across 70 cases between July 3 and Aug. 12. Banks had provided 5.4 trillion won in maturity extensions and repayment deferrals to suppliers across 8,167 cases by Aug. 7, along with 30.9 billion won in new emergency loans across 121 cases.

Meeting participants agreed to continue monitoring Homeplus's operations and provide support for workers' livelihoods and suppliers' business stability.