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  • GGGF 2026: Hyundai Motor bets on robots built for the job
    GGGF 2026: Hyundai Motor bets on robots built for the job SEOUL, September 03 (AJP) - The first fleet of humanoid robots Hyundai Motor is readying to roll out starting 2028 won't resemble human workers, but replace their specialties in a way to boost productivity whether it be through wheels or single arm, a senior member of the robotics intelligence team of Hyundai Motor said. "When you look at real work sites, no single humanoid can handle every task," Joo Si-hyun, vice president of the robotics intelligence development group at Hyundai Motor Group, told the audience of 2026 GGGF in Seoul Thursday. The industry's fixation on human-shaped machines obscures the wider family of physical AI systems doing the actual work, a point that applies well beyond any single carmaker. Physical AI refers to systems that act in the physical world rather than on a screen, steering robots, vehicles and machines through real space. It is widely cast as the next frontier after generative AI, and a humanoid form is often treated as its natural endpoint. Yet a humanoid cannot cover every task anindustrial site demands, Joo said. It can climb stairs and strike a range of poses, but its payload and speed are limited, while a single plant can span indoor corridors, outdoor yards and staircases. Stairs suit legged robots of the kind exemplified by Boston Dynamics' Atlas and Spot, while flat factory floors without curbs favor wheeled autonomous mobile robots that glide between stations. Behind a single physical AI machine sits a stack of technologies that never appears in a demonstration, spanning embedded intelligence, perception, autonomous driving and fleet management, each a discipline of its own. "People think one physical AI model will handle the whole site, but that takes an enormous amount of control underneath, from the brain to motion control across many domains," Joo said. The field is pushing toward end-to-end systems that fold those layers into a single model, he said, but technical bottlenecks remain, forcing a compromise between what is realistic now and where the technology may eventually go. Cost is another constraint the sector cannot dodge. Squeezing prices by fitting cheaper parts and mass-producing them, the route Tesla has taken, is not what buyers actually want, Joo argued, since no customer asks for inferior components. Standardizing shared parts matters more, and the motors and actuators that give a robot its movement remain among the most expensive elements. The near-term aim is machines anyone can operate, including the elderly, on platforms open enough for others to build services on top. A follow-me function that trails a factory worker, or a golf caddie that shadows a player, hints at the range. The group is also developing electric-vehicle charging robots for high-speed cables that can weigh 5 to 10 kilograms, a burden for older or disabled drivers. "I believe robotics can solve a wide range of social problems, but no one group can do it alone," Joo said, closing his address with a call for partners across components, services, insurance and communications. His call for collaboration set the tone for the session that followed. Lim Kyeong-seob, who heads manufacturing-AI transition cooperation at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources' industrial AI policy bureau, used his talk on the M.AX Alliance to argue that the manufacturing base long credited with driving South Korea's growth has hit a ceiling. "The competitiveness of manufacturing, which has driven our economy, has reached its limit," Lim said. "We have to take a different path from the United States and China, and we believe Korea needs a private-sector ecosystem where manufacturers and AI firms work together — which is why the M.AX Alliance was created." A panel discussion then took up where the success or failure of pairing manufacturing with physical AI will be decided, drawing industry insiders including Choi Jae-shik, chair professor at KAIST and chief executive of INEEJI, Kim Sun-tae, chief technology officer of NdotLight, and Hwang Hee-seung, head of Brain Commerce. Later sessions turned to the token economy's vanguard and the rise of the AI factory, before the forum closes Friday with a private session at the National Assembly. The three-day event, running under the theme "From Physical AI to Agentic AI, Beyond to AI Civilization," opened Wednesday at The Plaza in central Seoul, hosted by Aju News Corporation with the Global Economic and Financial Research Institute. AJP Takeaways • Hyundai Motor Group VP Joo Si-hyun told the 2026 GGGF that humanoids dominate the physical-AI conversation but can't cover most industrial tasks — wheeled AMRs and legged robots will hit factory floors first. • A single visible robot rests on an unseen stack — perception, embedded intelligence, autonomous driving and fleet management — split between optimal control and learning-based control, with true end-to-end systems still bottlenecked. • Cost hinges on standardizing shared parts rather than cheaper components, and no firm can build the full system alone, Joo said, citing Hyundai's charging robots and follow-me machines as near-term uses. 2026-09-03 11:46:37
  • Laon People Hits Upper Limit After Selection for National Physical AI Project
    Laon People Hits Upper Limit After Selection for National Physical AI Project Laon People, a specialized artificial intelligence (AI) company, reached its upper trading limit after being selected for a national project in the field of 'Physical AI.'As of 11:17 a.m. on September 3, Laon People shares were trading at 3,220 won, up 740 won (29.84%) from the previous trading day, according to the Korea Exchange.The surge in stock price is attributed to Laon People's selection for a major national project in the Physical AI sector, which is being promoted by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the National IT Industry Promotion Agency (NIPA).Laon People announced that it has been chosen as the executing organization for the project titled 'Establishment of a Collaborative Intelligence Physical AI-based Software Platform Research and Development Ecosystem,' specifically focusing on the 'Research and Development of an Unmanned Factory Operation - Physical AI Software-Defined Factory (SDF) Specialized Model.'This project will be led by Jeonbuk National University and involves a consortium of 15 industry, academia, and research institutions, including Laon People and NC AI. It is the largest national project in the Physical AI sector in South Korea, with a total budget of 70.2 billion won over five years, set to be completed by 2030.The goal of the project is to develop a 'Physical AI Foundation Model' for operating factories autonomously. Laon People will be responsible for implementing and demonstrating AI technologies for anomaly detection, predictive maintenance, and process optimization, which can be applied in automotive parts and robotics factories.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-03 11:40:00
  • Government to Provide Insurance for Soldiers Illnesses and Injuries
    Government to Provide Insurance for Soldiers' Illnesses and Injuries The government will introduce soldier injury insurance to cover illnesses and injuries incurred during military service. Additionally, a public health insurance plan will be available for discharged soldiers, providing medical expense coverage for 18 months without requiring proof of a causal link to military service.On September 3, the government announced these measures during the 13th National Policy Coordination Meeting chaired by Prime Minister Han Seung-soo.Starting in July 2027, the Ministry of National Defense plans to implement group injury insurance for all active-duty soldiers and reservists. Currently, some local governments offer their own military service injury insurance, but disparities in coverage and benefits based on residency have raised equity concerns.The government aims to design a nationwide public insurance plan in collaboration with the Korea Post, covering not only fractures, burns, and traumatic amputations but also mental health issues. According to the proposed plan, a maximum of 50 million won will be paid for death or permanent disability due to injury or illness. For injuries or deaths resulting from traffic accidents while off-duty, coverage will reach up to 200 million won, with severe disabilities covered up to 10 million won. Diagnosis payments for cerebral hemorrhage and acute myocardial infarction will be set at 3 million won, while compensation for mental health issues and traumatic amputations will be 1 million won each. Daily hospitalization costs will be 40,000 won, and surgical fees will be 200,000 won.A public health insurance plan to support treatment costs after discharge will also be introduced in July 2027. This plan will apply to discharged active-duty soldiers and reservists, automatically enrolling them upon discharge for 18 months of coverage. Notably, soldiers will not need to prove that their illness or injury occurred during service to access the insurance. This aims to reduce gaps in support for conditions like hearing loss or joint disorders that may worsen after discharge but originated during training.However, the insurance will not cover all medical expenses. The out-of-pocket rate for health insurance benefits will be 20% for covered items, 30% for severe non-covered items, and 50% for non-severe non-covered items. The coverage limit will be 50 million won for covered and severe non-covered items, and 10 million won for non-severe non-covered items. Cosmetic and plastic surgery will be excluded from coverage.Support for veterans who exceed the age limit for youth policies due to military service will also be expanded. The government has identified 34 programs that require adjustments to their age limits in this year's youth policy implementation plan.These programs include the Youth Growth Project, youth housing support, youth rental loan guarantees, public housing, support for young farmers, and smart farm startup incubation centers. Each ministry will consider military service duration when determining age limits for youth policy support.The government plans to amend the Veterans Support Act to provide a legal basis for reflecting the military service periods of active-duty soldiers, reservists, social service personnel, and officers in the age criteria for youth policies.Prime Minister Han stated, "We will provide robust support for young people who have served in the military, honoring the time they dedicated to the nation both during and after their service."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-03 11:40:00
  • Cho Hee-dae to Clarify Stance on Supreme Court Justice Nomination Process
    Cho Hee-dae to Clarify Stance on Supreme Court Justice Nomination Process Cho Hee-dae, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, has stated that he will provide an official stance regarding the request for a re-nomination of Supreme Court justice candidates after internal discussions.On September 3, while arriving at the Supreme Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, Cho told reporters, "I have not discussed this matter at all due to work commitments," adding, "I will listen to the discussions and provide an official statement."When asked if he plans to reconstitute the Supreme Court Justice Recommendation Committee, he remained non-committal, saying, "I will listen to the discussions and then speak on it."Cho had been absent from work until the day before due to the sudden passing of his father. He expressed gratitude to those who offered condolences, stating, "I deeply appreciate everyone who has sent their sympathies regarding my father's passing. We intended to hold a modest ceremony, but it has become quite public, and I apologize to the citizens for that."Previously, on August 28, the Blue House requested that Cho re-nominate a different candidate for the Supreme Court justice position, stating that the nomination of Son Bong-ki lacked procedural completeness.At that time, Cho expressed regret for causing concern among the public, saying, "I am reviewing the matter, and I will inform you officially once it is organized, likely next week."With Cho returning to work, the Supreme Court is expected to consider both the option of reconstituting the recommendation committee to restart the nomination process and the possibility of nominating a different candidate from the existing list, as requested by the Blue House.Current law mandates that the Chief Justice must form a recommendation committee each time a Supreme Court justice candidate is nominated, leading legal experts to predict that Cho will likely opt to reconstitute the committee.If Cho decides to form a new committee, the process of re-nominating candidates and going through the National Assembly's confirmation hearings could take considerable time, potentially leading to unavoidable conflicts with the Blue House. In July 2012, when then-nominee Kim Byeong-hwa resigned amid various allegations, the Supreme Court reconstituted the committee, and the nomination process took about three months to pass through the National Assembly.Conversely, there is also a possibility that the Blue House may reject the nominated candidates and request re-nominations from the remaining three candidates (Kim Min-ki, Park Soon-young, and Yoon Seong-sik). However, this could lead to criticism that the Blue House is infringing on the Chief Justice's nomination authority, as they could continue to request re-nominations until a candidate of their choice is nominated.Since the retirement of former Justice Roh Tae-ack in March, the Supreme Court has been without a replacement for nearly six months. Current Justice Lee Heung-gu is also set to retire on September 7, leaving two positions vacant.An agreement has been reached regarding the nomination of Kim Sung-soo as Lee's successor, and President Yoon Suk-yeol submitted the nomination for Kim to the National Assembly on September 1. 2026-09-03 11:36:10
  • Former Prosecutor Sentenced to Two Years for Accepting Bribes
    Former Prosecutor Sentenced to Two Years for Accepting Bribes A former prosecutor has been sentenced to two years in prison for accepting bribes from Jeong Un-ho, the former CEO of Nature Republic.On September 3, the Supreme Court's first division, led by Justice Seo Kyung-hwan, upheld the original ruling that sentenced Park, a former chief prosecutor, to two years in prison and ordered the forfeiture of 92 million won. This decision comes nearly nine years after Park was indicted in May 2017.Park is accused of receiving 100 million won from Jeong under the pretext of suppressing an audit by the Board of Audit and Inspection regarding Seoul Metro's leasing business.The first trial sentenced Park to two years in prison and imposed a forfeiture of 92 million won. The appellate court dismissed appeals from both sides, maintaining the original ruling.During the trial, Park admitted to dining with Jeong but denied any wrongdoing regarding the acceptance of money. However, both the first and second trials rejected his claims.The investigation into Park began after prosecutors secured related testimonies while investigating Jeong for embezzlement and other charges. In June 2016, prosecutors conducted searches at Park's residence and the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office.However, prior to the investigation, in early May of that year, Park was hospitalized due to a cerebral hemorrhage, leading prosecutors to delay his prosecution. After his discharge, they opted to proceed with the case without detention due to concerns about his health.The Ministry of Justice held a disciplinary committee at the time, discussing Park's case and ultimately dismissing him before the indictment, along with a fine of 100 million won. The ministry stated that he violated his official duties and damaged his dignity by accepting money under the pretext of soliciting favors from public officials.Meanwhile, Jeong, who was indicted on charges of violating the Specific Economic Crimes Act (embezzlement and breach of trust) and bribery, received a sentence of three years and six months from the Supreme Court in December 2017. He was found guilty of giving over 400 million won in bribes to judges and prosecutors in exchange for favors and embezzling a total of 10.8 billion won from company funds.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-03 11:36:00
  • Broadcom CEO Predicts Surge in AI Chip Sales Over Next Two Years
    Broadcom CEO Predicts Surge in AI Chip Sales Over Next Two Years Broadcom, a U.S. fabless semiconductor company, forecasts that sales of artificial intelligence (AI) chips will double each year over the next two years.CEO Hock Tan stated during a conference call on September 2, following the release of the company's third-quarter results for fiscal year 2026, that AI chip sales are expected to reach $115 billion in fiscal year 2027 and $230 billion in fiscal year 2028. In the third quarter, Broadcom reported AI sales of $16.7 billion, exceeding market expectations of $15.9 billion, and anticipates nearly doubling this figure annually for the next two years.Tan also projected that Broadcom's earnings per share (EPS) for fiscal year 2028 would surpass $30, exceeding the LSEG estimate of $25.86.He noted that major AI companies, including Google, OpenAI, and Meta, are actively seeking ways to complement NVIDIA's AI chips through in-house chip development, contributing to the strong performance of Broadcom's AI chip business. Notably, OpenAI and Anthropic, two leading players in the AI sector, are competing to expand their infrastructure, with Anthropic expected to become Broadcom's largest customer next year, surpassing Google."We have six customers, and four of them are expected to place significant orders," Tan said, adding that demand for AI chips currently exceeds Broadcom's supply capacity. As AI companies increasingly invest in developing their own chips to replace or supplement the expensive NVIDIA AI chips, Broadcom's reputation for semiconductor design is also rising. For instance, OpenAI's recently unveiled AI chip 'Jalapeño,' developed in collaboration with Broadcom, has been praised for outperforming NVIDIA's latest AI chips.Following Tan's remarks, Broadcom's stock initially dropped about 4% in after-hours trading due to disappointing guidance but later rebounded. The stock closed at $362.23, down $3.01 (0.82%) from the regular trading session.Broadcom's third-quarter revenue and EPS were reported at $29.59 billion and $3.32, respectively, marking increases of 86% and 96% year-over-year, surpassing LSEG estimates of $29.36 billion and $3.24. However, the fourth-quarter revenue guidance of $34.8 billion fell short of the expected $35.03 billion, leading to some disappointment regarding future performance.Meanwhile, Bloomberg reported that competition in the field of in-house chip development is intensifying within the AI industry. For example, Google, which has collaborated with Broadcom on Tensor Processing Unit (TPU) development for an extended period, recently entered into a new semiconductor co-development agreement with U.S. semiconductor company Marvell Technology.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-03 11:32:10
  • Naver Cloud to Develop 700 Billion Parameter Security-Focused AI Model
    Naver Cloud to Develop 700 Billion Parameter Security-Focused AI Model Naver Cloud is participating in a government initiative to develop a security-focused artificial intelligence (AI) model with 700 billion parameters.Naver Cloud announced on September 3 that its consortium has been selected as the contractor for the 'Specialized AI Foundation Model (Cybersecurity Sector)' project.The consortium consists of 33 institutions from academia, industry, and government. It aims to build an AI model optimized for the domestic security environment and to validate and enhance it in key national facilities and major industrial sites, thereby boosting the competitiveness of domestic security AI.Before officially starting the project, the consortium has already begun pre-training the security-focused AI model using 4,000 graphics processing units (GPUs). This includes 256 GPUs provided by the government, in addition to Naver Cloud's 4,000 B200 GPUs and 256 H200 GPUs from LG.The consortium plans to develop a final model based on HyperCLOVA X and ExaOne, featuring a 700 billion parameter expert mixture (MoE) structure. It will develop two independent models—one focused on defense capabilities and the other on attack capabilities—to address the entire cycle of cyber security threats. The performance of the developed models will be objectively verified through two internationally recognized benchmarks.Data for training will be sourced on a large scale, utilizing approximately 830 terabytes of high-quality real data that would be difficult for a single institution to gather. This data will include operational data from Naver Cloud and LG CNS, as well as data from key national infrastructure and major industries such as Korea Electric Power Corporation, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, Financial Security Institute, KISTI, and LG Uplus.The developed models will undergo continuous enhancement through real-world testing in key national facilities and major industrial sites. Testing will be conducted in seven sectors, including power, finance, science and technology, telecommunications, semiconductors, defense, and aerospace. The consortium also plans to secure specialized operational technology for closed networks to ensure stable operation in security environments with restricted external access.Kim Yoo-won, CEO of Naver Cloud, stated, “Winning this project reflects the comprehensive recognition of our large-scale AI infrastructure, data, and security expertise. We are committed to creating an AI that protects national critical infrastructure, aiming to develop a representative national security AI model and ecosystem for South Korea.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-03 11:32:10
  • Government to Reduce Number of Public Institutions by 109
    Government to Reduce Number of Public Institutions by 109 The government plans to reduce the number of public institutions and subsidiaries by 109. The five major power companies will be merged into one entity, while the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) will be split into two separate organizations focusing on development projects and housing welfare. This restructuring aims to consolidate functions and personnel to enhance investment capacity and reduce redundant operational costs. On September 3, the government announced the "Public Institution Function Reform Promotion Plan" following the 11th meeting of the Public Institution Operation Committee. According to the plan, the reduction will include 15 strategic structural reforms, 11 consolidations of similar and overlapping functions, and the integration of 83 subsidiaries and small institutions. The reform will target not only public institutions but also subsidiaries and those designated for public institution status. ◇ Consolidating Renewable Energy Investment Capacity; Coal Corporation to Liquidate After Debt Settlement The five power companies, including South East, Central, West, South, and East Power, will be merged under the provisional name "Korea Power." This consolidation aims to improve financial structure, enhance investment capacity, and increase profitability through joint purchasing of fuel and maintenance materials, as well as coordination of overlapping tasks. The merged entity will establish a Renewable Energy Headquarters to oversee large projects like offshore wind farms and a Just Transition Headquarters to manage the phase-out of coal power. Plans are also in place to create three to four regional renewable energy offices to promote solar and onshore wind projects. The Korea National Oil Corporation and the Korea Gas Corporation will be combined into a single entity called "Energy Resources Corporation." This merger aims to integrate strategies for the development, storage, and supply of oil and natural gas, enhancing negotiation power with oil-producing countries and global energy firms. Some functions related to oil storage and exploration will be transferred to the new corporation, while distribution improvements will be handled by the Korea Oil Management Corporation. The Korea Coal Corporation, which has closed all its mines, will proceed with liquidation. As of the end of last year, the corporation had debts amounting to 2.59 trillion won, incurring over 75 billion won in annual interest costs without any separate business activities. The government plans to secure funds for debt resolution through consultations with relevant ministries and will amend related laws to facilitate the liquidation. The four port authorities in Busan, Incheon, Ulsan, and Yeosu-Gwangyang will merge into a single entity called "Korea Port Authority." This consolidation will streamline policy and planning functions, transforming existing authorities into four regional branches to carry out specialized projects. The goal is to reduce excessive competition among ports and enhance international competitiveness through joint overseas initiatives. ◇ Utilizing Development Profits for Housing Welfare; Streamlining High-Speed Rail Reservations and Safety Management LH will be divided into two entities: a provisional "Housing and Urban Development Corporation" responsible for land development and housing construction, and a "Housing and Urban Asset Corporation" focused on housing welfare and asset management. This separation aims to improve the speed of housing supply and the stability of rental housing operations by distinguishing between development projects, which require agility and financial performance, and housing welfare, which emphasizes public service. The structure will maintain the use of development profits for housing welfare. A portion of the profits from the development corporation will be deposited into a separate account within the Housing and Urban Fund, which will then provide funding to the asset corporation. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport will announce specific organizational restructuring plans through a separate "LH Reform Plan." Korea Railroad Corporation (KORAIL) and SR will merge into KORAIL to unify the high-speed rail operation system. This integration will streamline train operation schedules, reservation systems, maintenance, and safety management, while also expanding seat availability and improving fare and mileage systems. The decision on whether to merge Incheon International Airport Corporation and Korea Airports Corporation will be re-evaluated after implementing measures to revitalize local airports. A provisional "Airport Strategy Council" will be formed to develop specialized strategies and financial improvement plans for each local airport, with progress being monitored. Security operations of the two airport corporations will be separated and consolidated into a specialized aviation security agency. ◇ Consolidating Services from Small Business Support to Overseas Offices Institutions performing similar and overlapping functions will also be merged. The Korea Small Business and Startups Agency and the Public Home Shopping Corporation will combine into a provisional "Small Business Marketing Promotion Corporation" to streamline support from product discovery to consulting, sales, and performance management. The Labor-Management Development Foundation and the Korea Employment and Labor Education Institute will merge into a provisional "Labor-Management Development Education Foundation." The Daegu-Gyeongbuk Advanced Medical Industry Promotion Foundation and the Osong Advanced Medical Industry Promotion Foundation will also be consolidated to enhance the joint use of research facilities and support for commercialization. The restructuring will reduce 83 subsidiaries and small institutions. Subsidiaries closely linked to the parent company will be absorbed, while those performing similar tasks will be integrated based on function. For example, seven subsidiaries of financial public institutions responsible for facility and customer management will be merged into provisional entities called "Policy Finance FMC" and "Policy Finance CS." Exhibition and viewing institutions, such as museums and science centers, will be integrated at the ministry level by sector, including culture, science, marine, land, and agriculture. A cross-ministerial consultative body will be established centered around the National Museum of Korea to coordinate exhibition planning, personnel training, and the development of integrated platforms and brands. The "K-Maroo" initiative will also expand to consolidate public institution offices scattered overseas. Major cities with five or more overseas offices will be targeted to allow businesses and expatriates to receive support from multiple agencies in one location, with information about office locations and key functions made available through the AliO platform. Employees of merged institutions, excluding executives, will be guaranteed job security. The government will implement a compensation system to ensure that treatment does not decline before and after the merger, and will consider increasing fixed allowances and optional welfare limits based on the welfare levels of each institution and the restructuring timeline. The government plans to develop specific institutional reform plans for each ministry and present them to the Public Institution Operation Committee. It will consult with the National Assembly on related legal amendments and communicate with local governments on matters involving regional stakeholders. Discussions will also be held with labor unions of relevant ministries and individual institutions.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-03 11:32:00
  • Homeplus Prioritizes Business Normalization and Successful M&A
    Homeplus Prioritizes Business Normalization and Successful M&A Homeplus, which has recently overcome a bankruptcy crisis with court approval of its recovery plan, has made business normalization its top priority. The company aims to stabilize its 67 reopened stores quickly, reduce costs, and achieve profitability, while also seeking a suitable acquirer for a successful merger and acquisition (M&A) in the long term. According to the retail industry on September 3, Homeplus management communicated to employees that "this approval decision allows the company to overcome the crisis and take a significant first step toward management normalization." The management outlined key tasks for normalization, including stabilizing operations at the 67 stores, achieving profitability through cost reductions, and repaying debts as per the recovery plan. They emphasized, "Ultimately, we must find a suitable acquirer who can lead Homeplus to growth and successfully complete the M&A process." Among the challenges, the management identified business normalization as the most pressing issue. They stated, "If we do not establish a solid foundation to generate surplus cash flow through our operations, all efforts will be in vain." This indicates the need to create a structure that allows the company to generate cash from its core business rather than relying solely on asset sales or additional borrowing. Homeplus's business indicators are showing signs of recovery. After normalizing operations at the 67 stores on August 13, sales over the following 18 days reached 116.4 billion won, a 57% increase compared to the same period before the suspension. During this time, the number of customers increased by 38%, and the number of purchasing members surged by 255%. However, since the reported figures include the effects of reopening, the sustainability of this recovery will need to be monitored further. The company is also restructuring its cost structure. In the recent explanation of the recovery plan, Homeplus reported that it has reduced monthly rent by over 20 billion won and monthly labor costs by over 26 billion won. The plan involves consolidating unprofitable stores and focusing on profitable ones to improve operational cash flow. However, many challenges remain. Homeplus must repay 503.2 billion won in unpaid supplier payments and other public debts. If the company fails to regain the trust of its suppliers, the stability of product supply could be jeopardized, impacting sales recovery. To secure funding, Homeplus is also pursuing the sale of its assets. The company plans to sell 19 self-owned stores among those slated for closure by February 2028 and intends to pursue its own M&A while implementing the recovery plan. On September 2, the Seoul Bankruptcy Court approved the recovery plan after receiving unanimous consent from 100% of secured creditors, 75.90% of unsecured creditors, and 100% of shareholders during a meeting of interested parties. Once repayments under the plan commence normally, the recovery process will conclude. Management stated, "We will do our utmost to ensure that the dedicated efforts of our employees do not go to waste and that we successfully complete the recovery process," and requested continued support from all staff on the journey to normalization. 2026-09-03 11:28:20
  • Financial Supervisory Service Expands Management Staff for Residential PF Projects in Seoul Area
    Financial Supervisory Service Expands Management Staff for Residential PF Projects in Seoul Area 금융감독원이 수도권 주거용 부동산 프로젝트파이낸싱(PF) 사업장의 관리 인력을 기존 5명에서 25명으로 확대한다. 사업장별로 금감원과 금융회사 담당자를 각각 지정해 자금 조달부터 인허가까지 사업 진행 과정 전반을 점검한다.금감원은 3일 금융업권 관계자들과 ‘신속한 주택공급 촉진을 위한 간담회’를 열고 이 같은 내용의 주거용 PF 사업장 밀착관리 방안을 공유했다.이번 조치는 수도권 주택 공급을 앞당기기 위한 금융 지원의 일환이다. 이찬진 금감원장은 전날 임원회의에서 서울·수도권 주택이 조기에 공급될 수 있도록 금융지원 역량을 집중하고 2027년까지 공급이 예정된 사업장은 일정에 차질이 없도록 특별관리하라고 주문했다.금감원은 이에 따라 25명 규모의 ‘주택공급촉진 금융지원단’을 구성한다. 기존 5명이 담당했던 PF 사업장 관리를 부동산PF평가관리반이 총괄하고, 대리금융기관이 속한 각 검사국까지 협업 범위를 확대한다.금융회사도 사업장별 담당자를 지정한다. 밀착관리 대상 사업장에는 금감원과 금융회사에서 각각 1명씩, 총 2명의 담당자가 배치된다. 금융회사는 사업장별 애로사항을 살피고 사업 과정에서 이상 징후가 확인되면 금감원에 즉시 알릴 예정이다.사업장별 사업 지연 사유도 전수 점검한다. 금감원은 조사 결과를 토대로 사업장을 △정상진행 △공급촉진 △정상화지원 △매각유도 등 네 가지 유형으로 구분해 관리할 계획이다.일시적인 사유로 일정이 늦어진 사업장은 공급촉진 대상으로 선정해 지원하고, 부실화 가능성이 있는 사업장은 정상화지원 대상으로 관리한다. 매각 이외에 현실적인 정상화 방안을 찾기 어려운 사업장은 매각을 통한 사업 재개를 유도한다.자금 지원이 필요한 사업장에는 신디케이트론, PF개발앵커리츠, 캠코펀드 등을 연결한다. PF 보증이 필요한 경우에는 주택도시보증공사(HUG)와 한국주택금융공사(HF)의 보증을 연계한다. 공공임대주택 매입 수요가 있는 사업장은 한국토지주택공사(LH)와 연결하고, 인허가 등 금융 외적인 문제가 있는 경우에는 국토교통부 등 관계 부처와 협의할 방침이다.정상적으로 사업이 진행되고 있는 곳도 추가 지원을 통해 착공이나 준공 일정을 앞당길 수 있다면 관련 금융지원 수단을 연계한다. 밀착관리 대상은 2027년까지 착공 또는 준공이 가능할 것으로 예상되는 수도권 규제지역 주거용 PF 사업장 등 325곳이다. 공급 물량으로는 약 18만호에 해당한다. 2026-09-03 11:28:20