Korea Artiz Studio faces possible charges under CPF Act; representative fails to show up in court
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Aside from its CPF case, Korea Artiz Studio also faces 22 claims under the Small Claims Tribunals.
ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
- Korea Artiz Studio faces possible charges under the CPF Act for failing to pay employee contributions and missed a court hearing on Sept 30, leading to a two-week adjournment.
- The studio has 22 claims under the Small Claims Tribunal and one under the Employment Claims Tribunal, with investigations ongoing for unpaid salaries and over $271,000 in customer pre-payment losses.
- Customers formed a Telegram group with over 400 members to seek refunds; the studio's contact details are defunct, and its outlets in Taiwan and Jakarta have ceased operations amid customer complaints.
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SINGAPORE – Wedding photography studio Korea Artiz Studio faces possible charges under the Central Provident Fund Act but failed to show up in court for its hearing on Sept 30.
The court’s hearing list states that the studio faces offences under the CPF Act, which typically means that the employer has failed to pay its employees’ monthly CPF contributions on time.
After noting that the studio’s representative was absent from court, the prosecutor requested two weeks’ adjournment to contact the studio, which the court agreed to.
Aside from its CPF case, Korea Artiz Studio faces 22 claims under the Small Claims Tribunals (SCT), which resolve specific types of low-value disputes between consumers and suppliers involving claims of up to $20,000, or $30,000 with both parties’ consent.
These cases will be heard between Sept 30 and Oct 14.
The studio also faces one claim under the Employment Claims Tribunals.
In August, the Ministry of Manpower said it was investigating Korea Artiz Studio for possible offences over non-payment of salaries.
That came a week after Carlton Hotel repossessed the space originally occupied by the studio, which had abruptly ceased operations over unpaid salaries.
The Consumers Association of Singapore said on Aug 19 that it received 66 complaints from the bridal store’s customers between Aug 14 and 18, with more than $271,000 in pre-payment losses reported.
A Telegram group chat formed by affected customers has amassed 404 members as at Sept 30. In the group chat, seen by The Straits Times, one member lamented that they had filed a case under SCT, but no one from the studio showed up for the hearing. Other members said they had filed credit card chargeback claims with their banks in attempts to get their money back.
Attempts by ST to contact the studio revealed that its contact e-mail and telephone number are now defunct, while its business website is still up and running.
Founded in Busan, South Korea, in 2008, Korea Artiz Studio describes itself as a Korean luxury bridal photography brand with studios worldwide.
Taiwanese media reported that the studio’s Taiwan outlet ceased business in August, while customers commenting on the company’s Jakarta outlet’s Instagram page claimed the studio “ran away” with their money, and demanded refunds and compensation.