Yang Chi-seung. [Newsis]
Yang Chi-seung. [Newsis]

Yang Chi-seung, a personal trainer known for working with celebrities, has lost an administrative lawsuit against Gangnam-gu over a compensation charge tied to his gym eviction and must also bear the legal costs. He had previously lost a separate building-handover suit filed by Gangnam-gu.

The Seoul Administrative Court's 13th Administrative Division, presided over by Judge Jin Hyeon-seop, dismissed all of Yang's claims Thursday in his suit seeking to nullify a compensation levy imposed by Gangnam-gu District Mayor, according to legal sources.

The court also ordered Yang to cover the litigation costs but did not disclose the specific reasoning behind the ruling.

Yang had been operating a gym in a public parking facility in Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, under a lease agreement signed with a private developer in 2018. The building had been constructed by the developer, donated to Gangnam-gu, and used rent-free for 20 years before management and operating rights were transferred to the district.

The dispute arose in November 2022, when the developer's rent-free period expired.

After taking over management of the building, Gangnam-gu called for Yang and other tenants to vacate. Yang pushed back, saying he had never been informed at the time of signing his lease that he would have to leave once the rent-free period ended.

Gangnam-gu ultimately assessed Yang tens of millions of won in compensation charges, citing unauthorized occupation of the building. Yang challenged the levy in an administrative lawsuit, but the court rejected his claims.

Yang has also suffered consecutive defeats in the building-handover suit brought by Gangnam-gu.

He closed the gym in July last year, and his loss was confirmed in October last year when the Supreme Court dismissed his final appeal without substantive review.

Yang is also facing a criminal trial on charges of violating the Public Property and Commodity Management Act in connection with his unauthorized use of the building.

He received a summary order imposing a fine of 1 million won ($747), which he contested by requesting a formal trial. The first hearing was held in July this year.


yeonjoo7@heraldcorp.com