Homeplus Supermarkets Halt Operations Nationwide in South Korea

On 13 July 2026, Homeplus, South Korea's leading retailer, ordered an immediate shutdown of all its stores. Employees were told to leave by 11 a.m., with security staff remaining on site. The abrupt closure affected 67 hyper‑markets across the country, leaving thousands of workers idle. In one store, kitchen staff had just loaded about 40 kg of rice to feed roughly 400 employees when the directive arrived, a scene that quickly went viral.

Homeplus cited a cash‑flow shortage that prevented payment to suppliers and coverage of operating costs such as electricity and water. The company was unable to secure emergency financing, prompting the sudden cessation. Labor unions condemned the lack of prior notice and highlighted the impact on both Homeplus staff and the many workers in tenant shops within the outlets. The South Korean government announced temporary wage support and emergency loans for affected employees and businesses, though unions argued the measures were insufficient given the scale of the disruption.