Hanwoo Sells Out in 5 Minutes... Crowds Rush In as Store Resumes Operation

[Anchor]

Homeplus, which faced the crisis of bankruptcy, has ended its temporary suspension and resumed operations. Driven by news of massive discount events, customers flocked to the stores early in the morning.

Reporter Choi Seung-hun has the details.

[Reporter]

[Please move slowly. Just go slowly. Slowly.]

At 10:00 AM, as business began, customers waiting outside the store pushed their carts and rushed inside.

The half-price Hanwoo (Korean beef) display booth was packed with no room to spare, and the first batch sold out in less than five minutes.

Half-price red bean bread also sold out instantly, forming a long line of people waiting for a fresh batch of bread.

[Park Chun-woong / Yangcheon-gu, Seoul: I heard they were selling delicious bread cheaply today, so I came to buy some. If I leave my spot here, my wife might yell at me...]

Today (August 13), 67 Homeplus stores officially reopened.

Homeplus, currently undergoing corporate rehabilitation procedures, temporarily suspended operations last month due to a cash crunch, but managed to reopen after securing 200 billion won in emergency operating funds.

Homeplus has set out to win back customers through substantial discount events.

[Hwang Ye-won / Gangseo-gu, Seoul: Since it was right in front of my house, I always came here, but it was really inconvenient because there was nowhere else to go grocery shopping...]

[Lee Jung-shin / Gangseo-gu, Seoul: It broke my heart to think it was disappearing. I am so full of joy and gratitude that it reopened today.]

In-store tenants could not hide their expectations at the return of customers.

[Son Jong-wook / Homeplus Tenant Business Owner: Since we opened, a lot more customers came and bought things. As long as the doors stay open, sales should continue to go well.]

The ultimate turning point for the fate of Homeplus is expected to be the creditors' meeting scheduled for September 2.

It is the day when interested parties, such as creditors and shareholders, gather to decide whether to approve the rehabilitation plan submitted by Homeplus.

Since the primary acceptance by stakeholders is crucial for the rehabilitation court's deliberation, the key until then will be retaining customers, regaining the trust of suppliers, and normalizing product supply.

(Photo taken by Kim Hak-mo | Video edited by Jung Yong-hwa)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.