Trainer and broadcaster Yang Chi-seung has lost an administrative lawsuit filed against the Gangnam District Office regarding a gym eviction dispute.
Yesterday, the Seoul Administrative Court dismissed all claims filed by Yang seeking to nullify the imposition of compensation fees by the head of Gangnam District.
The court also ruled that Yang must bear the costs of the lawsuit.
The dispute began while Yang was operating a fitness center in a public parking lot building in Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul.
He entered into a lease agreement with a private developer and moved into the building in 2018.
The building in question was constructed under an arrangement where a private developer built the facility, donated it to Gangnam District, used it free of charge for 20 years, and then transferred the management and operational rights to the district office.
However, as the private operator's free-use period expired in November 2022, an eviction issue arose for the tenants.
The Gangnam District Office, which took over the building's management and operational rights, demanded that Yang and other tenants evacuate.
In response, Yang protested, stating that he had not been properly informed about the eviction terms stemming from the expiration of the free-use period when he signed the contract with the lessor.
He maintained that it was difficult to vacate the premises immediately because he had not even been returned his deposit.
Consequently, the Gangnam District Office imposed tens of millions of won in compensation fees, claiming that Yang was occupying the building unlawfully.
Yang filed an administrative lawsuit to contest this, but the court once again did not accept his arguments.
Yang had previously lost a building handover suit filed by the Gangnam District Office.
Ultimately, he closed down the gym in July of last year, and the ruling was finalized in October of the same year when the Supreme Court dismissed his appeal without a trial.
(Reported by Kim Minjeong | Video by Seo Byeong-wook | Graphics by Yook Do-hyun | Produced by SBS Digital News)
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