Homeplus is expected to resume its online and offline operations within a week after its debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing is disbursed.
According to the Homeplus General Labor Union on the 27th, management explained that "the timing of resuming operations will be within 7 days after the DIP funds are deposited," adding that "the DIP schedule is July 31 or August 3." If the funds are disbursed as scheduled, operations could resume around the 7th to 10th of next month.
The 200 billion won in DIP funds secured by Homeplus will be prioritized for normalizing product supply. It was also reported that the company plans to use the funds to pay unpaid severance to retirees and unpaid wages to employees.
Rather than operating entire existing stores, the reopening plan under review calls for scaling down to food-focused stores of 600 to 1,000 pyeong. Staffing will be allocated according to store size, while also reflecting the wishes of individual employees.
Currently, the Homeplus headquarters purchasing team is holding discussions with fresh food and processed food suppliers to resume product supply. Work to secure logistics centers and delivery drivers needed for logistics movement is also underway in parallel.
The company has also begun preparations to resume online operations. To restart online delivery services at 16 stores in the greater Seoul area, Homeplus is working to secure e-commerce delivery drivers and establish specific operating methods. The online business is also planned to be normalized in line with the timing of the offline store reopenings.
According to the union, Homeplus raised about 30 billion won through a recent 50% discount event. Those funds will be used to pay 40% of June wages and to cover utility bills such as water and electricity.
The headquarters organization is expected to operate with minimum staff for the time being. However, it was reported that the specific scale of workforce operation and deployment plans have not yet been finalized. Support measures for mall tenant owners and small business operators are also being discussed. Homeplus working-level staff plan to hold telephone consultations with tenant businesses starting the 28th, with items including fee reductions to be addressed as key agenda.
The union said, "We believe the participation of tenant businesses and small business operators will play an important role in normalizing Homeplus operations," adding, "Accordingly, we plan to respond by setting up a separate communication channel to check the operating situations and difficulties of tenant businesses."
