As a Pilates academy in Namyangju-si, Gyeonggi Province closed down without refunding prepaid tuition fees, victims have filed complaints against two former and current directors.
On the 5th, Yonhap News reported, "The Namyangju Northern Police Station has booked Pilates academy director A and former director B without detention on charges of fraud and is investigating them." They are accused of not refunding prepaid tuition fees to students despite closing a Pilates academy in Toegyewon-eup, Namyangju-si. It is reported that former director B operated the Pilates academy from April to November last year before transferring the academy to current director A. Afterwards, A unilaterally notified members on the 4th of last month that operation was difficult and then closed the academy. Regarding tuition refunds, A reportedly suddenly disappeared, stating that only memberships contracted after taking over the center would be refunded. Former director B is known to have told the police that he transferred the center to A on the condition that A take over the existing memberships.
The victims said, "They did not inform members about the transfer of the center," and "With the sudden closure, the center shut down, and the former and current directors are only asserting their own positions without providing refunds." So far, the police have identified about 90 victims, with estimated damages reaching around 70 million won. It is understood that none of the victims have received refunds from these directors yet. A police official explained, "There are complaints between the two directors and civil matters involved," adding, "Since the types of membership subscriptions among the victims vary, we are classifying complainants and conducting investigations."
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