In Seoul, more gyms are luring customers with discounts to make them pay large sums upfront, then shutting down and blindsiding consumers.
On the 20th, according to the Korea Consumer Agency (KCA), applications for dispute mediation over indoor sports facilities in Seoul rose from 1,195 cases in 2022 to 1,424 in 2023, 1,539 last year, and 809 in the first half of this year.
By category, among the 4,967 dispute applications from 2022 to the first half of this year, gyms accounted for 73.8% (3,668 cases), followed by Pilates at 20.6% (122 cases) and yoga at 5.6% (277 cases).
By reason, contract-related issues such as cancellations and penalty fees made up the vast majority at 97.5% (4,843 cases).
The agency also warned that damage tied to "gym subscription services" is newly occurring. In such cases, the gym fee is automatically charged each month to a pre-registered credit card.
Regarding gym subscription services, 78 dispute applications were filed in Seoul from 2022 to the first half of this year, and about half (48.7%) raised issues over the "failure to disclose automatic payments."
The agency issued a gym damage prevention advisory with the Seoul city government, agreed to share information on frequent-offender businesses, and will strengthen education. It will also mount a joint response, including on-site inspections of acts that obstruct contract cancellations at subscription-based gyms.
The agency advised, "Be cautious about long-term contracts that lure you with discount events, and to prepare for business closures or loss of contact by the operator, when paying 200,000 won or more, use a credit card and, if possible, pay in installments over at least three months."