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As Homeplus announced a temporary suspension of operations at its headquarters and hypermarket stores due to depleted operating funds and difficulties in facility maintenance, a notice announcing the temporary closure is posted at the entrance of a branch in Seoul on the 13th. / Reporter Song Eui-ju

The Democratic Party of Korea is pushing to hold a parliamentary hearing on July 27 to investigate who is responsible for the Homeplus crisis, which has left the major retail chain on the brink of liquidation. The party plans to closely question MBK Partners, the majority shareholder, and Meritz Financial Group, the largest creditor, regarding their responsibility for the management failure and the collapse of the rehabilitation process.

During a Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly on the 15th, Han Byung-do, the acting party leader and floor leader, criticized the firms. He pointed out that despite the imminent threat of bankruptcy for Homeplus, MBK and Meritz remain passive and are focused solely on evading responsibility, adding that public anger is mounting over what he called their deceptive behavior in failing to meet even the minimum level of social responsibility.

Han emphasized that the situation is more than just a corporate bankruptcy, warning of massive fallout. He noted that this crisis does not stop with a single company's bankruptcy and could cause immense harm to over 13,000 workers and their families, as well as tenant businesses, suppliers, local communities, and consumers. He pledged that the party will make every effort to uncover the truth, punish those responsible, protect workers' livelihoods, and support affected businesses.

Chief Spokesperson Kang Jun-hyeon met with reporters immediately after the meeting and announced next steps. He stated that the party will convene a plenary meeting of the National Policy Committee on the 16th to approve the adoption of witnesses and the hearing schedule, adding that they intend to move forward with the July 27 hearing even if the ruling People Power Party does not participate.

The hearing is expected to focus heavily on questioning representatives from MBK Partners and Meritz Financial Group. Lawmakers are set to press them on how the company's financial health deteriorated so sharply, why emergency funding was cut off, and who bears responsibility for the failed rescue.

Homeplus temporarily suspended operations at its headquarters and hypermarkets on July 13 due to depleted operating funds and an inability to cover basic facility maintenance. The Seoul Bankruptcy Court dismissed the company's rehabilitation proceedings on July 3. If Homeplus does not file an immediate appeal by July 17, or if its appeal is rejected, the retail chain will enter formal liquidation.

                                                                                                          Kim Dong-wook