"Protecting Homeplus" Mart Union Launches 'Homeplus Revival Struggle Headquarters'

Mart Union Forms Struggle Headquarters to Prevent Store Reductions and Restructuring
Hanmaeum Council: "The Next Three Months Are Critical"

The Mart Industry Labor Union (Mart Union) of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions Service Federation launched the 'Save Homeplus Struggle Headquarters' on the 25th to prevent store reductions and restructuring at Homeplus. The Homeplus employee representative body, the 'Hanmaeum Council,' also held a company-wide council meeting on the same day and resolved to work together for the normalization of the company.

Kang Woo-cheol, Standing Committee Chairman of the Struggle Headquarters (Photo by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions Service Federation Mart Industry Labor Union)

Kang Woo-cheol, the standing chairman of the Struggle Headquarters and the Mart Union chairman, said, "The corporate rehabilitation plan submitted by MBK Partners may include store closures," adding, "If one store closes, about 1,000 workers and lease business owners will be forced onto the streets." He continued, "A fight to protect the intact Homeplus is necessary."

Ahn Soo-yong, co-head of the headquarters and head of the situation room and the Homeplus branch chief, said, "If the store re-contracting through sale and leaseback after the sale fails, the impact will be enormous," adding, "Major stores such as Yeongdeungpo, Dong Suwon, Centum City, Geumcheon, Samcheonho, Jamsil, Jukdo, and Paju Unjeong are facing re-contracts in 2026 and 2027."

The Struggle Headquarters officially sent a letter to MBK Partners on the same day and also requested a meeting with Chairman Kim Byung-joo. The Mart Union is preparing collective responses by expanding regional-level struggles and forming a joint countermeasure committee.

Employee Representative Body 'Hanmaeum Council': "The Next Three Months Are a Critical Period... We Will Work for an Early Graduation from Corporate Rehabilitation"

On the afternoon of the same day, the Homeplus employee representative body, the 'Hanmaeum Council,' held a company-wide council meeting at the Homeplus headquarters in Gangseo-gu, Seoul. The Hanmaeum Council is a labor-management council representing the entire organization, composed of worker representatives elected from Homeplus large marts, Express stores, logistics centers, and bakeries nationwide.

On the 25th, a company-wide council meeting was held at the Homeplus headquarters with Homeplus executives and all members of the Hanmaeum Council in attendance. Through this meeting, the Homeplus labor and management agreed to work together to restore the company to normalcy. (Photo by Homeplus)

Earlier, the Hanmaeum Council issued a statement to all workplaces nationwide, saying, "In the past 28 years, including during the time under Samsung C&T and Tesco, we have overcome many changes and crises by working together, and all employees have protected the workplace with one heart and mind, believing that we are the owners of Homeplus." They added, "Now is the time to focus on protecting our precious workplace rather than fueling anxiety with unnecessary rumors."

They continued, "The next three months are a very important period to gain external trust and achieve rehabilitation," adding, "Since the company has confirmed internally and externally that there are no problems with employee employment and wage payments, we will continuously verify the fulfillment of promises and matters related to employees with the company."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.