Kim Kyungjoo of Gyeongju City Council: "The Homeplus Crisis Is a Test of Industrial Transformation; Local Communities Must Be Protected"
74 Young Local Council Members Nationwide and Mart Labor Union
Call for Responsible Rehabilitation at the National Assembly
Amidst the rapidly changing retail environment, calls from both the political community and labor unions have continued, emphasizing the need to protect workers and local communities in relation to the closure crisis at Homeplus.
On July 29, 74 young local council members of the Democratic Party of Korea, including Kim Kyungjoo of Gyeongju, and the Homeplus branch of the Mart Industry Labor Union held a joint press conference at the National Assembly Communication Center, urging for responsible rehabilitation procedures and the establishment of effective countermeasures.
The press conference, hosted by National Assembly member Park Sanghyuk (standing secretary of the National Policy Committee), was attended by An Sooyong, head of the Homeplus branch of the Mart Labor Union, and others. Participants stressed that the costs of industrial transformation should not be shifted onto workers and local communities.
During his remarks, Assemblyman Kim Kyungjoo pointed out, "Gyeongju Homeplus was not only a valuable workplace for 100 citizens of Gyeongju but also a key part of the local lifestyle infrastructure. However, due to its suspension of business, the commercial sphere has weakened, the cultural center has stagnated, and the entire community has been shaken."
He continued, "While the immediate threat of bankruptcy has been avoided through emergency funding, workers' job insecurity remains unresolved," conveying the concerns from the field.
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Kim assessed the situation not as a mere management failure, but as a precursor to an industrial transformation crisis caused by the expansion of online retail and the structural challenges of the regional economy. Immediately following the press conference, the participants chanted slogans and strongly demanded that the government and National Assembly promptly improve systems to safeguard workers and local communities.
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