‘My heart sank’: Abrupt closure of Korea Artiz Studio leaves engaged couples in limbo

“As a result, we are currently unable to confirm or guarantee that the scheduled photography sessions can proceed as planned,” the message read.

Customers were told not to go to the studio for these sessions and asked to check the company’s official Instagram and Facebook accounts for any updates.

CNA has reached out to the Ministry of Manpower for comment on the unpaid salary claims.

According to its website, the studio, which specialises in “high-end Korean-themed” wedding photography, videography, and bridal services, was founded by Kim Yong Seon in South Korea in 2008. It expanded overseas, including to Taiwan, Jakarta and Singapore.

A search of business registration records shows the firm was incorporated in 2017 and is currently registered to a Singaporean man and two Chinese nationals.

The studio did not respond to queries from CNA.

PAID FULL AMOUNT UPFRONT

Affected customers told CNA they were required to pay for their packages upfront in full.

Like Ms Lim, Ms Glenna Tham and her fiancé paid about S$3,200 after winning a cash voucher through a lucky draw at the studio. 

Ms Tham, 25, only found out about the closure during a lash appointment, when her lash technician said she saw a post on Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu complaining about the studio.

“I was really, really shocked. I didn’t expect this to happen. My heart sank because we paid in full,” she said.

“And I knew that at that moment it was very, very unlikely that we could get our money back in situations like this, because I’ve heard of stories like this happening, I just never thought it would happen to me.”

She plans to lodge a police report in person and dispute the credit card transaction, although she admitted that her “hopes are not very high”.

Other customers had noticed certain red flags.

A customer who gave her name as Crystal said she was aware that the studio had closed its business in China a few years ago.

But when she raised her concerns at a wedding fair in May, the salesperson was “very confident”.

“We specifically asked her if that will sort of impact the business or the operations in Singapore, and she said no because they have been here for quite some time, and they have a lot of customers sign up for the package with them, and they’re quite packed in terms of scheduling,” said the 33-year-old who works in finance.

Employees had informed her about the closure through their WhatsApp group on Saturday, a week ahead of their planned pre-wedding photoshoot.

The couple had paid S$3,900 for the shoot and have since submitted a chargeback request to the bank.

Another customer, who declined to share his name, sensed something was amiss when he asked a question in a WhatsApp group created with employees from the studio on Monday.

Instead of a response, the salesperson “quietly” left the group chat, he said.

When he called her later, the salesperson claimed that she had not received her salary for the last two months and that her boss had “run away”.  

The 33-year-old, who bought a S$3,600 package in full in July, questioned why employees were still selling packages if they were not receiving their salaries then.  

The salesperson had told him that when she made the sale, she did not do it with ill intentions.

“Just that she didn’t expect this to happen as well, and I mean, the studio also was quite fully booked for appointments for the shoot, so I think no one really had known that this would happen,” he said.

He has since filed a complaint with CASE, contacted his bank and made a police report.  

Looking at his invoice later, he noticed that it came without terms and conditions attached, he added.

Other customers declined to share the contract with CNA, noting a clause in the terms and conditions that states it cannot be disseminated. They did not want to risk breaching the contract while attempting to get their money back.

CASE’s Mr Yong, who is also the Member of Parliament for Radin Mas single-member constituency, said consumers are advised to carefully review bridal and wedding photography packages before committing to a purchase, obtain written confirmation of key terms and deliverables, and retain all relevant documentation, including contracts and proof of payment.

Where appropriate, consumers should negotiate to split the contractual amount into smaller progressive payments to be paid at various stages of service delivery, he said.

Affected consumers can approach CASE for assistance at 62775100 or www.case.org.sg.