"Business Hasn't Even Started, Only Monthly Rent Is Paid"

A Man in His 30s Clashes with Interior Company, Appeals Unfair 'Construction Halt'

'Contract Breach' VS 'Trust Broken, Payment Should Start from Final Balance' Diverging Views Remain Parallel

Interior and exterior finishes corroded due to moisture.

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Cho Hyung-joo] A young man who embarked on a business with high hopes is now appealing his frustration, saying he faced a crisis where he had to stop before even starting due to conflicts with an interior design company during the preparation stage.

On the other hand, the interior design company claims that the issue is related to the progress of the construction and that they had sufficiently discussed the construction delays in advance, leading to a standoff.

The man in his 30s, Mr. A, said he had been interested in fashion since childhood. He started learning by working at a bespoke suit shop to gain practical experience.

After about three years of nurturing his dream of becoming a businessman, he took a step toward his goal by signing a lease for a small shop last year. However, Mr. A claims that this soon turned into disappointment.

On October 18 of last year, Mr. A met Mr. B, the CEO of an interior design company in Gwangju, introduced by an acquaintance, and prepared to sign a contract. Two days later, he paid a deposit of 4.4 million won and finalized the contract.

After starting the interior construction, he made two payments for the construction fees, totaling 80% of the amount, and was waiting for the completion date. The contract specified the final construction completion date as December 30.

However, at Mr. B’s request, citing “slow concrete curing,” the completion was postponed and rescheduled to January 7 of the following year.

Three days before the final completion date, Mr. A said, “When I asked Mr. B about the site status, he replied that it could not be completed by the promised date,” and “He only repeated that due to weather and other factors, it was uncertain how long the concrete curing would take.”

He also claimed that after two weeks of construction, rust appeared on the finishing materials, and Mr. B suggested applying an overall coating, mentioning additional costs. When Mr. A raised objections about cracks and lifting in the cement, no significant measures were taken.

Eventually, Mr. A said he was informed by Mr. B that the remaining 20% of the payment must be made first before additional work could proceed, and the construction has been halted since then, expressing his frustration.

Mr. B also has much to say and is standing firm.

He explained that the office under construction initially had many concerns due to high humidity.

Mr. B said, “We had sufficiently discussed the delay in construction due to the long concrete curing time,” and “Mr. A frequently visited the site before the construction was completed and often expressed worries and complaints.”

He added, “A specialized company for concrete curing advised that using a heater could cause cracks, so natural drying was recommended,” and explained, “The construction period was extended to ensure safety and a better outcome rather than worsening the floor condition.”

He also said, “There were many cracks during the paint work, and I clearly informed that paint repairs would be done once more, but conflicts arose because Mr. A insisted on unconditional coating.”

Regarding the rusted finishing materials that Mr. A raised as an issue, Mr. B drew a line, saying it had been notified in advance.

He lamented that as disagreements increased, it escalated into an emotional conflict.

Mr. B claimed, “Despite prior notice, there were demands for compensation for rusted materials and coating, leading to loud arguments,” and “Due to verbal abuse and lack of respect, I decided not to proceed with additional work.”

He continued, “Before the construction was completed, demands for compensation intensified the conflict, and I judged that trust was broken, so I requested the remaining payment first,” and “Since communication was no longer possible, I had no choice but to abandon the site.”

With both sides at an impasse, the interior construction of the building has been suspended since January 4. Mr. A is currently paying only the rent for the building and has taken legal action against Mr. B.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.