Shoppers browse a Homeplus store in Seoul, Sunday. Yonhap
Homeplus, which had been on the brink of closure, is accelerating efforts to normalize operations after securing 200 billion won ($141 million) in emergency operating funds, company officials said Monday.
Whether the large-scale retailer can restore customer trust and sales and prove its viability by the Sept. 4 deadline for approval of its rehabilitation plan will be a key test of its recovery, according to industry watchers.
Homeplus resumed online orders at 2 p.m. Monday, following the reopening of 67 key stores nationwide on a trial basis last Friday. The retailer plans to resume full operations Thursday, along with marketing campaigns aimed at attracting customers.
The reopening comes about a month after the 67 stores were temporarily closed starting July 13.
