Domestic VIP Customer Files Injury Lawsuit Against Luxury Brand CEO
1.5cm Tear Occurred While Browsing Products at Brand Store
"No Emergency Treatment Given" vs "Followed to Hospital"
The fact that the CEO of a foreign luxury brand was criminally sued by a VIP customer at a Korean department store was revealed belatedly.
A VIP customer injured while shopping at a department store in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Photo by Channel A News
On the 25th, the Gangnam Police Station in Seoul announced that they are investigating a criminal complaint filed last month by a middle-aged man, Mr. A, on charges of professional negligence causing injury. Earlier, in March, Mr. A was browsing products at a foreign luxury brand store inside a department store in Gangnam when he hit his face on the corner of a display case. As a result of the accident, Mr. A’s eyelid was cut about 1.5 cm and required five stitches.
The issue was that Mr. A was a VIP customer who spent over 100 million won annually at the brand. According to CCTV footage inside the store released by Channel A, Mr. A was looking at clothes hanging on the wall and, when he turned around, he hit his face on the display case and appeared to clutch the area around his eyes in pain.
Mr. A explained the reason for the criminal complaint, saying, "At the time of the accident, the store employees did not call an ambulance or provide emergency treatment, and afterward, they neither formally apologized nor offered compensation."
The luxury brand side explained, "Immediately after the accident, Mr. A was taken to the department store’s emergency room for first aid," adding, "While the employee was looking for several hospitals, Mr. A mentioned a preferred hospital, so the employee accompanied him there." They continued, "The employee who accompanied him confirmed that the customer received treatment and returned home," and claimed, "The company also contacted Mr. A several times afterward to inquire about his recovery and discuss compensation, but Mr. A did not respond."
The luxury brand expressed deep regret over the unexpected safety accident in the store, stating, "Currently, safety devices have been added to the corners, and we are thoroughly reviewing the store’s layout and construction to prevent such incidents from happening again."
A police official said, "We have investigated the complainant and store employees involved," but added, "The claims of both sides sharply conflict. Since the investigation is ongoing, we cannot provide detailed information."
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