Representatives from the Korea Federation of Trade Unions' Korea Zinc labor union and the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions' mart industry union hold placards denouncing MBK Partners at a press conference at Gwanghwamun Square in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on Tuesday afternoon. Participants from both major union federations — including the Korea Zinc union and the Homeplus branch of the mart workers' union — condemned MBK's speculative conduct, which they said is destroying key national industries and driving workers to their deaths. Photo by Lim Se-jun
Representatives from the Korea Federation of Trade Unions' Korea Zinc labor union and the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions' mart industry union hold placards denouncing MBK Partners at a press conference at Gwanghwamun Square in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on Tuesday afternoon. Participants from both major union federations — including the Korea Zinc union and the Homeplus branch of the mart workers' union — condemned MBK's speculative conduct, which they said is destroying key national industries and driving workers to their deaths. Photo by Lim Se-jun

Homeplus, which is undergoing court receivership proceedings, will suspend its online delivery service at some branches starting next month, industry sources said.

Homeplus will halt its "Magic Delivery" online order service at select locations — including its Wolgok, Banghak and Sangbong branches in Seoul — from July 1, industry sources said Tuesday. Customers who check delivery availability for those branches on the Homeplus website or app will see them listed as "delivery closed" from next month. "Due to internal operational issues, the Magic Delivery service will be temporarily suspended starting July 1," the company said.

Anxiety is growing at affected stores as the suspensions come ahead of a key deadline in Homeplus's restructuring case. The Seoul Rehabilitation Court must approve the company's rehabilitation plan by July 3. The court has asked Homeplus's creditors and unions to submit documentation by Tuesday explaining how the company plans to raise 200 billion won ($130 million) in additional funding.

Homeplus submitted a revised rehabilitation plan to the Seoul Rehabilitation Court on Monday, outlining a restructuring that would consolidate its hypermarket operations around 67 core stores to improve business viability. However, its plan to secure the 200 billion won central to its recovery remains unclear.


korean@heraldcorp.com