DAEGU — Major supermarket chain Homeplus is plunging back into severe financial distress, sending shockwaves through its remaining stores in the Daegu and Gyeongbuk regions. Just months after emergency funding allowed locations to reopen following a temporary shutdown, stores are once again grappling with empty shelves, delayed payrolls, and a stalled sale process.

Visits to the Seongseo and Suseong branches in Daegu on Thursday revealed visible signs of supply chain disruptions. Several aisles and upper refrigerator shelves remained bare, while normal refrigerated goods were replaced with shelf-stable items such as snacks and dried squid. Available products were predominantly restricted to the company’s private-label brands, severely limiting customer choices.

"The shelves are noticeably emptying out again compared to the summer," said a 58-year-old shopper at the Seongseo branch. "It is heartbreaking to witness, especially knowing the employees are trying hard to keep things running."

While Homeplus secured around 200 billion KRW in emergency operating funds from Meritz Financial Group last July, cash flow from daily operations has fallen short of expectations. Consequently, the company has struggled to cover operational expenses and payroll. In Daegu, the closed Sangin branch recently faced potential power cutoffs due to unpaid electricity bills, while the Seongseo branch is paying municipal usage fees in installments after missing the lump-sum deadline.

Employees are bearing the brunt of the instability. Workers reported receiving only partial payments for August wages, with holiday bonuses and the remainder of their pay still delayed. Furthermore, a previously announced voluntary retirement program was abruptly canceled due to shifting management conditions, leaving workers uncertain about their futures.

"Paychecks are not arriving on time, which makes daily life extremely stressful," said a 22-year-old veteran employee. "We are just trying to survive day by day, hoping a viable buyer steps forward."

The crisis is also threatening local vendors and small-business tenants operating inside the stores. Plummeting foot traffic has slashed sales, and store tenants express grave concerns over delayed deposit refunds and payment settlements if further closures occur.

Negotiations to find a new owner have hit a plateau. Although Homeplus and its advisors initially planned to close preliminary letters of interest by late last month, the process is now proceeding without a fixed deadline as talks with potential buyers drag on.

The Homeplus union has stepped up pressure, criticizing management for offering empty reassurances while conditions deteriorate. Union representatives emphasized that the turmoil is no longer a corporate issue alone, but a social crisis threatening thousands of livelihoods and the local economy, and urged government intervention to secure a normalization plan.

[ⓒ Global Economic Times. 무단전재-재배포 금지]