From Fitness Mentor to Victim: Yang Chi Seung’s Gym Shuts Down after Rental Scam
Yang Chi Seung is a well-known fitness trainer in South Korea, having coached top celebrities like Sung Hoon and Kim Woo Bin. For years, he built a reputation for shaping the bodies and discipline of Korea's A-list actors. But recently, Yang found himself in the spotlight for an entirely different—and tragic—reason.
He announced that his gym, which he's operated for years, would be shutting down due to a real estate scam involving a fraudulent rental agreement. The estimated personal loss? More than 500 million Korean won—around $375,000 USD. The ramifications of this ordeal go far beyond one man’s finances—they highlight systemic problems that are all too familiar for small business owners in uncertain markets.
A Career Built on Trust and Training
Yang wasn’t just any trainer—he ran a prominent gym and had earned the trust of major celebrities and the everyday gym-goer alike. But that trust, ironically, became part of his downfall. The rental property for his gym was owned by a longtime acquaintance. That person’s son even worked at the gym. So, when it came time to sign the lease, Yang didn’t question much.
It turned out the person leasing the property didn’t own it. Yang unknowingly signed a lease with someone who had no legal authority, making the entire rental contract invalid. He had poured years of savings into the gym, from equipment investment to branding, only to find himself evicted and entangled in legal chaos.
The Scam’s Two Sides: Who’s Really Responsible?
Yang’s View: A Betrayal and a Business Destroyed
Yang has publicly stated that he never suspected a thing. The person he dealt with was someone he trusted, not a random broker. Worse, his gym’s staff and loyal customers were caught in the crossfire. He promised full refunds to all members with prepaid memberships—but that’s a challenge when you’re suddenly facing financial ruin.
The situation raises a bigger question: should victims bear the burden if proper legal checks weren’t followed? Yang admits he didn’t have official documentation verified through legal channels. That lack of due diligence contributed to the disaster—but does that make him less of a victim?
The Landlord’s Defense: Not Fraud, Just Miscommunication
The person who posed as the landlord claims there was no intention to deceive and that legal authorities dismissed the case as a misunderstanding. However, Yang and other experts argue that intent doesn’t change the outcome: hundreds of customers are left without access to facilities, and Yang is filing for significant losses.
There are also concerns over how legal systems treat such cases. The fact that someone can create a fake lease and walk away without consequences only exposes the loopholes that leave small business owners vulnerable.
Beyond One Gym: A Problem for All Small Business Owners
This isn’t just Yang’s misfortune. Countless small business owners face similar property scams, especially in high-demand neighborhoods where buildings change hands quickly and legal paperwork isn’t always crystal clear. When these scams happen, it's often impossible for the business owner to recover financially.
Yang’s shutdown also affects his gym members—many of whom had signed up for long-term memberships. Some paid for six or even twelve months in advance. The uncertainty over refunds adds another layer of damage, turning this tragedy into a consumer protection crisis.
Lessons on Trust, Business, and the Need for Change
What happened to Yang Chi Seung is a stark reminder that trust should never override due diligence—especially when it comes to business contracts. In the U.S., tools like property title verification, lawyer-reviewed leases, and property management firms exist for a reason. That said, many small business owners skip those steps to save money or out of personal trust.
Governments should step up by enforcing stricter real estate verification processes and providing free legal resources for small business tenants. At the same time, business operators—especially in industries like fitness, beauty salons, and cafes—need to educate themselves on commercial leases.
For Yang’s situation, quick action is needed to refund clients and rebuild trust. But for society at large, this is a wake-up call. As the freelance and self-employed workforce grows, so does the urgency to protect them from both economic and legal vulnerabilities.
