Hyundai Department Store Group will advance 273.8 billion Korean won in settlement payments to about 10,000 small and medium-sized partner companies before the Chuseok holiday. The payments will be made on September 21, up to nine days earlier than scheduled, as businesses face funding pressure from the prolonged economic downturn, high interest rates and high inflation. The eligible companies include about 3,000 partners of Hyundai Department Store and about 7,000 partners of 15 group affiliates. The beneficiary count is about 1,000 higher than last year’s Chuseok total. The group also operates longer-term funding support, including Hyundai Department Store’s annual 6 billion won interest-free loan program and Hyundai Home Shopping’s interest-free financing for product and technology development.