[COVER STORY] Homeplus reopening draws crowds amid hopes, concerns

Seoul and Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province - As early as 10 a.m. on Thursday, a line of people began forming outside the main entrance of the Homeplus store in Gangseo District, Seoul. The anticipation had started 30 minutes prior, as the crowd consisted mainly of older adults. The store had been closed for 31 days due to a temporary suspension of operations, brought about by a lack of operating funds during its rehabilitation process.

The store was granted another chance to reopen after a Seoul court approved its rehabilitation plan, with a new deadline set for September 4.

A local resident living nearby shared her observations about the store's reopening. She mentioned that prior to the temporary closure on July 13, Homeplus Gangseo had almost empty shelves, lacking essential items like eggs and milk. Despite the initial challenges, she still made a point to visit the store today, highlighting that the prices were often on sale and affordable.

Fifteen minutes before the store opened, visitors were granted entry, but when over 100 customers formed a queue in front of the store, the enthusiasm for the reopening was clearly evident.