![[Goyang=NEWSIS] Reporter Park Ju-seong = Homeplus, which is undergoing corporate rehabilitation proceedings, has fallen behind even on its electricity bills, prompting warnings of power outages at six closed stores. Although these locations have already ceased discount store operations, some tenants within the buildings continue to operate, meaning they would be forced to shut down if the outages are carried out. According to industry sources on the 26th, six Homeplus branches—Pochon Songwoo, Kintex, Goyang Terminal, Namyangju Jinjeop, Paju Unjeong, and Gwajwa—received power outage warnings from Korea Electric Power Corporation for the 27th through the 30th. A power outage is also scheduled for the Incheon Songdo branch next month. The photo shows a closed Homeplus store in Gyeonggi Province on the 27th. October 27, 2026. park7691@newsis.com /Photo=](https://thumb.mt.co.kr/cdn-cgi/image/f=avif/21/2026/11/2026110409510681082_1.jpg)
More than six out of every 10 SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) operating within Homeplus reported experiencing a decline in revenue last year. Seven out of 10 suppliers responded that they suffered losses due to delayed payment settlements, showing a significant difference compared to other discount stores.
According to the "2026 Survey on Transactions Between SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) and Offline Large-Scale Retailers" released by the SME Central Association on the 4th, 63.0% of SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) doing business with Homeplus responded that their revenue through their main discount store decreased compared to the previous year, based on figures from July to September. This level is more than double that of E-Mart (28.0%), Lotte Mart (31.0%), and Hanaro Mart (26.0%).
The survey was conducted targeting 900 SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises), including 500 department store tenants and 400 discount store tenants during the same period. For discount stores, 100 companies each were surveyed from E-Mart, Lotte Mart, Homeplus, and Hanaro Mart.
Losses among Homeplus tenants appeared in various forms beyond revenue decline, including payment delays. 72.0% (72 companies) of Homeplus business partners reported experiencing losses due to changes in operational strategies, such as store shrinkage and branch closures. The gap was stark compared to E-Mart (2.0%), Lotte Mart (8.0%), and Hanaro Mart (6.0%). Furthermore, all 72 Homeplus business partners who experienced losses responded that they had suffered delays in settlement of supply payments.
Looking at discount store tenants as a whole, 37.0% reported experiencing a revenue decline. Responses indicating an increase in revenue were limited to 12.0%, while 51.0% reported no change. In particular, 53.1% of apparel suppliers responded that their revenue had decreased, showing a higher rate of decline than other product categories. The proportion reporting losses due to changes in operational strategies, such as store reductions, was 22.0%.
Among discount store tenants, 5.0% responded that they had experienced unfair trade practices or improper conduct in their transactions with discount stores. In contrast, no department store tenants reported experiencing unfair trade practices or improper conduct.
The burden of fees and margins paid by SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) to retailers was also significant. For SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) engaged in special purchase contracts and lease transactions, the average sales commission rate was 26.1% for department stores and 20.2% for discount stores. The average margin secured by retailers in direct purchase transactions was 20.6% for department stores and 21.0% for discount stores.
For department stores, the highest sales commission rates by company were surveyed at 38.0% for Hyundai Department Store, 36.0% each for AK Plaza and Galleria Department Store, 35.0% for Shinsegae Department Store, and 33.0% for Lotte Department Store. The sales commission rate refers to the proportion of the total amount of commissions, sales promotion fees, logistics and delivery costs, etc., that accounts for the selling price.
With revenue declines overlapping with transaction cost burdens, tenant SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) cited fee reductions as the most necessary cooperative measure. 43.0% of department store tenants and 37.5% of discount store tenants expressed a desire for fee reductions. Responses indicating that they felt the effects of retailers' cooperative programs were limited to 36.2% and 29.5%, respectively.
Kim Hee-joong, Head of the Economic Policy Department at the SME Central Association, stated, "Tenant revenue is decreasing due to the growth of the online market and sluggish domestic demand, yet the burden of fees remains." He added, "The retail industry and SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) need to discuss transaction conditions such as fees and payment deadlines for supply, and voluntary cooperation needs to spread further."
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