Homeplus Resumes Operations with Massive Sales Events

[Anchor]

It is Thursday, and reporter Han Jiyeon is here with our "Friendly Economy" segment. Han, I understand that Homeplus is reopening today (the 13th)?

[Reporter]

Yes, it is reopening 67 stores nationwide today, successfully overturning a previous court ruling that deemed survival impossible due to liquidity issues.

Homeplus was very close to shutting down for good.

Since March of last year, the company had been striving to recover under court administration by devising a debt-repayment plan. However, on July 3 of last month, the court concluded that the plan was unfeasible and decided to terminate the rehabilitation procedures altogether.

This was essentially a bankruptcy process.

However, about two weeks later, its largest creditor, Meritz Financial Group, dramatically arranged 200 billion won in new funding.

Chairman Kim Byung-ju was also reported to have provided a joint and several guarantee for the entire loan amount.

With these funds, the company appealed to the court, arguing that it could be revived, and on July 21 of last month, the court accepted the appeal, shifting direction toward giving the company another chance.

Consequently, overdue rent and merchandise payments, along with employee salaries and unpaid amounts owed to small business owners, were prioritized. As a result, the stores are officially reopening today.

However, not all stores have been saved.

Thirty-seven underperforming stores are undergoing closure procedures this time.

Furthermore, it is not completely out of the woods yet.

If the rehabilitation plan is not approved by September 4 of next month, the company could once again face the termination of rehabilitation procedures and head toward bankruptcy.

[Anchor]

Inflation has been severe these days, but I hear they are also holding major discount events?

[Reporter]

Items such as Hanwoo beef, fried chicken, and pork belly will be offered at discounts of up to 50% alongside buy-one-get-one-free deals.

Because suppliers had cut off deliveries after failing to receive payments during the suspension period, the display shelves were largely empty.

With the overdue payments now settled, product supplies, centered around fresh foods, have resumed.

Starting today and running for the next four days, all varieties of Hanwoo beef will be discounted by up to 50%.

Starting tomorrow for three days, freshly prepared in-house fried chicken will be sold at offline stores for half price at around 3,400 won, limited to one per customer, excluding the Seogwipo branch.

Domestic pork cuts such as pork belly and pork collar will be discounted by 40%. A wide variety of other items, including seafood, fruits, snacks, beverages, deli items, and bakery products, will also be heavily discounted, with these promotions lasting until the end of this month.

Online operations will also resume today, with 59 out of the 67 stores accepting online orders starting today.

[Anchor]

Lastly, regarding the latest tax revision plan, does this mean the monthly rent tax credit is increasing?

[Reporter]

The monthly rent limit eligible for tax credits is increasing, and the deduction rates, which used to vary based on income, are being unified toward the higher rates.

The tax credit, which refunds a portion of the monthly rent paid during year-end tax settlement, will provide greater benefits starting next year.

First, let me explain the structure.

The total monthly rent paid over a year is calculated by multiplying it by a tax deduction rate to determine the refund amount.

However, there is a limit.

Previously, even if the total monthly rent paid in a year exceeded 10 million won, calculations were capped at exactly 10 million won. Starting next year, this limit will increase to 12 million won.

This applies equally to young adults and homeowners without properties.

However, the deduction rates will differ.

Young adults aged 15 to 34 who meet the basic requirement of having a total annual salary of 80 million won or less will receive a flat deduction rate of 17%, regardless of their exact income level.

Originally, either 15% or 17% was applied depending on income, but young adults will now universally receive the higher 17% rate without income scrutiny.

For example, if an office worker aged 15 to 34 with an annual salary of 50 million won previously received a 17% deduction yielding up to 1.7 million won, they will receive up to 2.04 million won starting next year, an increase of 340,000 won.

For a young adult with an annual salary of 70 million won, the difference is even greater.

Originally, because their income was relatively high, they only qualified for a 15% rate. With both the limit and the deduction rate increasing to 17%, their deduction will jump from 1.5 million won to 2.04 million won, an increase of 540,000 won.

There are benefits for non-youth workers as well.

Workers without homes with an annual salary of 80 million won or less can multiply their respective deduction rates by the increased 2.04 million won limit. Those with incomes of 55 million won or less will receive a 17% rate, increasing their benefit by 340,000 won, while those earning between 55 million won and 80 million won will receive a 15% rate, increasing their benefit by 300,000 won.

However, the plan still requires approval from the National Assembly. If passed, it will apply to monthly rent payments made from January 1 of next year onward.
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.