[Consumerwide_ Yohan, Bok Reporter]  Recently, there has been a paid membership movement among domestic warehouses. As Emart traders have joined Costco by changing to paid-membership, the market was paying attention to the steps of Homeplus. However, Homeplus is not considering paid-membership.

On the 8th, followed by industry, Costco, Emart Traiders, Homeplus Special, Lottemart Maxx are competing in the domestic warehouse discount market. Cosco, whose discount market has begun since 1994, is taking 1st place in Korea. It has 17 stores. Regardless of having a paid-membership system, Costco sales have recorded 5.3522 trillion won during the 2020 fiscal year  (Sept.2020~Aug.2021), which is an 18.3% increase from 2021, business profits have recorded 177.5 billion won, which is a 24.3% increase.

As it is turning to a high price period, more customers are checking out warehouse discount stores, which have relatively inexpensive bulk products. Reflecting this trend, Cosco is aggressively extending 20 branches, from Gocheok (Seoul/2022) to Cheongna(Incheon), Iksan(Jeonbuk).

Emart Traders began in 2010 (Guseong branch). Since then, every year they have planted new branches. By 2012, they have extended to 3 times compared to 2010 (7 branches). After that, 2020 and 2021, Emart Traders have recorded two-digit growth rates in sales, and today is entering the 3trillion era.

Last June, Traders opened the 21st branch in Whaseongsi, Kyoungkido. Traders are speeding store extension by opening 5 more branches by 2025.

However, Shinsegae is behind Cosco in sales records though their branches are exceeding Cosco. Hence, Shinsegae is decisively moving forward by changing the entire system to Traders Wholesale club, which is a paid-membership.

Meanwhile, Homeplus has decided to maintain open-type(free membership). Homeplus has 14 warehouse discount stores, Homeplus Special, in Mokdong, Siheung, Dongdaemun, Incheonyeonsu, Siwha, Whaseongdongtan, Cheonansinbang, Dongdaejeon, Cheongjuseongan, Kwangjuhanam, Suncheonpungdeok, Jeonjuwansan, Sangin, Haeundae. A Homeplus related person said during an interview with Consumerwide, "Homeplus Special, the warehouse discount store, is not planning on paid membership. Instead, we are concentrating on Homeplus mega foodmarket renewal."

Lottemart bigmarket, which mart begun with paid-membership, has turned to free-membership. With this free-membership system, Bigmarket has announced a new name, 'Lottemart Maxx'. So, it seems to be that Lottemart Maxx won't take paid membership again.