Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Forever]

I joined a Fitness club (Total Health and Fitness) next to Mongchontoseong station in September 2009.

I paid 100,000won for 3 months membership.

My membership ran out in December so I paid another 100,000won for another 3-month membership.

Two weeks later when I go to the fitness club, I find just an EMPTY building.

There is a sign outside that says -

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2695/4333162179_d77728ec1e.jpg

Apparently the Fitness club just closed down and states - If you come back between 1st ~ 6th February with your Fitness membership card - we will give your money back to you.

I checked in many days to see what was happening - but there were only builders there.

They were building a new "GOLF" place in the building where the Fitness club used to be.

Today is the 6th. So I went to look and found a group of people doing some kind of religious blessing to open the new golf club.

I asked for my money back and was just told, "Sorry, they are gone, we are the new company and owners".

I told them, but they stole my 100,000won, they just disappeared 2 weeks after I paid it to them, the new "Golf club" people and the Priest who was doing the religious thingy told me "Too bad".

That is disappointing business behavior, I feel if they knew they were going to disappear, WHY did they take my money?

[Captain Corea]

[conrad2]

There has been an epidemic of this in Kangnam recently. Its been in the Korean news. My buddy got burned bad. Its not that the club just ran into hard times and went bankrupt. Opening up and disappearing in the middle of the night was the business model.

[Gaber]

I remember something like this happening with a California Fitness in 2006. Sucks bro.

[Konglishman]

[blackjack]

[bassexpander]

Sorry to hear that.

My wife said that this is indeed happening a lot recently. 3 months at 100,000 is a good deal. As mentioned, you're lucky it wasn't worse. You are probably SOL.

Never pay for more than 3 months, and if the deal is right, never more than one month.

[crossmr]

One of my friends got burned on a million for a 1 year membership. The place was only open about 2 more months then closed. She was pretty pissed.

She got on a list to get some money back.. I think in the end she got a little bit when they were liquidated.

[djsmnc]

This is about the time you call up Fat Tony to "make arrangements." That is if Fat Tony isn't the one running the place...

[Forever]

The "Priest" as the religious ceremony actually was the only one who could speak English and gave me the name and cellphone number of the former owner who stole my money.

But what can I do with that? start sending him text messages (in Korean) asking him to deposit my 100,000won into my bank account?

like he will do that.

[jiberish]

I've been to three different gyms and each time paid for 1 year. No problems.

[djsmnc]

[Mr. Pink]

Its just a 100k won. I can't believe you are going so nuts about it. Things happen. The closest gym to where I live wants 100k a month.

Forget about it. You aren't in high school or university anymore where 100k was a fortune.

[Forever]

[xCustomx]

This happened to me in 2005 and I lost about 240,000 won. Some families had paid 20 million won for a lifetime membership and the owner of the club fled to China. He left everything in the building so people started taking fitness equipment and TVs