Gmarket to End Homeplus Same-Day Delivery Service

Gmarket, an e-commerce platform under the Shinsegae Group, will discontinue its same-day delivery service for Homeplus. This decision comes as Homeplus undergoes corporate restructuring amid ongoing store closures and financial difficulties, leading to the end of the Homeplus dedicated section that has operated for nearly a decade.

According to the retail industry on the 27th, Gmarket plans to terminate the Homeplus same-day delivery service effective June 30. Gmarket launched the 'Homeplus Same-Day Delivery Specialty Section' in July 2015, allowing customers to receive orders placed by 4 p.m. the same day. The service has offered fresh produce, meats, and household items based on Homeplus's nationwide store network. Gmarket partnered with Homeplus to meet the demand for fresh food among online shoppers, utilizing the supermarket's logistics infrastructure for quick delivery.

However, the service has faced disruptions since Homeplus filed for corporate rehabilitation in March of last year to initiate proactive restructuring. In September and October of last year, same-day delivery services were suspended at several locations, including Gayang, Siheung, and Jeonju Wansan.

Recently, there were hopes for a turnaround after Homeplus sold its supermarket division, Homeplus Express, to NS Shopping, a subsidiary of Harim Group. However, the financial challenges remain significant. Homeplus is expected to receive approximately 120 billion won from the sale by the end of next month, but reports indicate difficulties in paying employee salaries and normalizing supply deliveries.

Notably, Homeplus has temporarily suspended operations at 37 of its 104 hypermarket locations until July 3. This reduction in store operations is likely to weaken the foundation for online same-day delivery services.

As uncertainty looms over Homeplus's ability to resume normal operations, industry insiders believe Gmarket's decision to end the service reflects this reality. One industry source stated, "Given that Homeplus has suspended operations at 37 stores for nearly two months, Gmarket likely determined it was unsustainable to maintain the same-day delivery service as before."

A Gmarket representative commented, "We plan to introduce various delivery services in the future to enhance the online shopping experience."

Meanwhile, the deadline for Homeplus's rehabilitation plan approval is set for July 3. If a buyer is not found by then, liquidation remains a possibility.