The Democratic Party of Korea launched the "MBK Homeplus Incident Resolution Task Force (TF)" in connection with Homeplus's management crisis. As the situation progressed from a management crisis after private equity firm MBK Partners' acquisition to a court rehabilitation filing, and concerns grew over additional closures and large-scale damage, the ruling party stepped in directly.
According to political circles on the 16th, the Democratic Party approved the plan to establish the "MBK Homeplus Incident Resolution TF" at the supreme council meeting the previous day. Director General will be Rep. Yu Dong-su (Gyeyang A, Incheon). Yu, an economy expert who has served as secretary of the National Assembly Strategy and Finance Committee and senior vice chairperson of the Democratic Party's policy committee, is serving as chairperson of the Democratic Party's price countermeasures TF in the 22nd National Assembly. About 10 members, including Rep. Choe Gi-sang, are expected to join the TF.
The Democratic Party first formed a "Homeplus Countermeasures TF" under the Euljiro Committee in March. However, when Homeplus headquarters in September signaled early closures within the year for 15 stores nationwide, raising concerns that the damage could spread rapidly, it expanded the body into a party-level response mechanism. Spokesperson Mun Dae-rim said, "If MBK makes no self-rescue efforts, additional closures are unavoidable," adding, "This is to examine what policy responses are possible for the victims, estimated at around 300,000."
After acquiring Homeplus through large-scale borrowing in 2015, MBK Partners secured short-term liquidity by selling assets and converting to leases, but has faced criticism for weakening store competitiveness. Ultimately, Homeplus filed for corporate rehabilitation with the court in March, and as suppliers demanded not only advance payments but also deposits afterward, about 100 billion won was tied up, deepening the liquidity crisis. In the sale and rehabilitation process, tens of thousands of employees and partner-company workers have been pushed into job insecurity.
The TF will hold a closed-door preparatory meeting on the 17th to discuss its future course of action. It is also considering holding a public forum to denounce MBK's management practices to the public. With public opinion equating Homeplus and MBK potentially damaging the corporations' image, it plans to pursue measures to minimize damage alongside job security plans. A TF official emphasized, "More important than apportioning blame is a sustainable management plan for Homeplus, on which the livelihoods of 300,000 people depend."
Floor leader Kim Byeong-gi and the Democratic Party floor leadership will visit the Homeplus Gangseo store on the 19th to hold a roundtable with the union and small business owners and urge MBK to present active normalization measures.