Girls' Generation Jessica's Fashion Brand Faces 'Forced Eviction' Over Unpaid Rent

Court Executes Delivery of 'Blanc & Eclair'
Dispute Over Unpaid Monthly Rent in Lease Agreement
Blanc Side Claims "Landlord Interfered with Business"

Jessica, a former member of the girl group Girls' Generation, and founder of the fashion brand 'Blanc & Eclare' (hereinafter Blanc), has been subjected to a forced execution procedure by the court following a lawsuit with the building where the brand's main store was located.

According to the legal community on the 25th, enforcement officers from the Seoul Central District Court carried out a delivery enforcement against Blanc & Eclare the day before. This procedure, also known as forced execution, refers to the process by which the state enforces judicial obligations through coercive power against those who fail to fulfill their legal duties.

Blanc has been in dispute with the building owner since August 2021 due to multiple delays in paying the monthly rent.

Subsequently, the court issued a recommendation for reconciliation and closed the case, but when Blanc delayed rent payments again, the court proceeded with forced execution against Blanc.

Fashion brand 'Blanc & Eclare' founder Jessica
[Photo by Jessica SNS capture]

As related controversies spread, Blanc issued an official statement on the 25th regarding the enforcement of delivery of the business premises.

Blanc stated, "During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when the food service industry was struggling, we asked the building owner for understanding to delay the rent payment schedule, but we received a certified letter stating, 'If rent is overdue for three months, you must leave.'"

Blanc continued, "While agreeing to the contents, we requested the resumption of elevator operation after 10 PM in accordance with government guidelines that allowed business operations after 10 PM at that time," and "however, the building owner stopped elevator operation after 10 PM and even closed the main entrance."

Blanc explained, "Due to this, we experienced operational difficulties for over six months caused by customer inconvenience and complaints, but we did our best to endure and continue operations," adding, "Ultimately, in early April, we judged that we could no longer continue business and had no choice but to decide to cease operations and terminate the lease contract."

They also stated, "The building side ignored us by delaying responses for over three months under the pretext of reviewing this matter, and after three months, they conducted a surprise visit to the business premises, disrupted ongoing operations, proceeded with forced execution, and dismantled the store."

Blanc added, "In this situation, even the deposit refund has not been properly made, and we are once again waiting," and "We are reviewing and preparing for litigation."

Blanc & Eclare was established by Jessica after she left Girls' Generation in 2014. Tyler Kwon, Jessica's boyfriend and a Korean-American businessman, serves as the CEO and manages the company.

Jessica appeared on the Chinese audition program 'Sheng Feng Pa Lang Ji Zhuo Zhuo' last year and succeeded in re-debuting in a Chinese girl group by finishing in second place.

Meanwhile, the government established a temporary special provision from September 29, 2020, for six months, stipulating that rent arrears during this period would not be considered as grounds for contract termination for commercial tenants who suffered business losses due to COVID-19.

However, Jessica's case does not fall under this provision. Blanc's continuous rent arrears occurred after August 2021, which is outside the special provision period.

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