Homeplus has reversed its decision to close its Busan Centum City branch, opting to continue operations at the high-performing location while proceeding with closures at other stores where rent negotiations failed.
The company, currently undergoing corporate rehabilitation, had initially planned to terminate contracts at 27 of its 68 leased stores nationwide, including several in Busan.
Industry sources confirmed that MBK Partners, the private equity firm and largest shareholder of Homeplus, recently decided to maintain the Centum City store, citing strong sales. However, the Gamman and Janglim branches remain scheduled for closure, raising concerns over job losses and service gaps in neighborhoods like Gamman and Uam-dong.
The Mart Industry Union, which has actively protested the closures, criticized MBK for job insecurity and the potential disruption to local communities. “Centum City and Asiad are among Busan’s top-performing stores,” a union spokesperson said. “This proves that store closures are at MBK’s discretion, and we demand more responsible management.”
The union will hold a press conference in front of the Nam-gu Office on June 17 and a rallyincluding a head-shaving protest in Seomyeon on June 20. They are also calling on Nam-gu officials to intervene, emphasizing the impact on local employment and consumer access.
Prior to entering court-led rehabilitation, Homeplus had already closed its Gaya, Seomyeon, and Yeonsan branches in Busan.
