“Received Tens of Millions in Advance Payments... Then the Clinic Closed and Disappeared” Sejong Dental Clinic Faces Class Action

[Financial News] A dental clinic in Sejong Special Self-Governing City has come under fire after abruptly ceasing operations without refunding advance payments to customers. The victims, dissatisfied with the clinic’s response and its announcement of impending closure, have begun filing a class action lawsuit.
According to Sejong Nambu Police Station and Yonhap News Agency on the 26th, police have received 12 complaints alleging fraud and embezzlement against A Dental Clinic in Sejong Special Self-Governing City and have begun investigating the matter. The clinic reportedly informed patients last week that the director would be unable to provide treatment due to personal reasons, and on the 25th, suddenly posted a notice of suspension of services at the entrance.
The notice stated, 'If you have prepaid for treatment and your procedure is not yet complete, please contact us for information regarding compensation and the next steps.' It also included the contact information for a law firm.
Customers who visited the clinic after hearing the news were left in shock. They expressed frustration, saying the clinic neither notified them in advance about the closure nor refunded their payments, and instead gave the impression that business would continue as usual.
So far, at least 40 victims have been identified, with individual advance payments ranging from as little as 2 million won to as much as 30 million won. The number of victims is expected to rise, as many have not yet filed complaints.

On this day, dozens of customers who belatedly learned of the closure visited the clinic, only to find the doors firmly shut.
Ji, a 54-year-old patient who was undergoing dental implant treatment at the clinic, explained, "Last week, the clinic called and said the director had been in a car accident and treatment would be delayed. I thought nothing of it, but yesterday I was suddenly notified that the clinic would be closing."
He added, "Dozens of victims visited, but all we found was a contact number for a law firm—there was no proper response. When frustrated customers voiced their concerns, a clinic staff member instead called the police, claiming we were causing a disturbance."
Another customer, who had already undergone tooth extraction in preparation for an implant, lamented, "There has been no guidance on refunds or further treatment. Rumors are circulating that the director has significant debts and may even file for bankruptcy, leaving everyone anxious."
Police plan to launch a formal investigation into the incident soon. As citizen reports continue to come in, health authorities have also begun looking into the circumstances.
An official from the Sejong City Health Center stated, "We were only told the director was hospitalized and the clinic was temporarily closed; no closure application has been filed so far. We will investigate whether there are any violations of medical law, but have not yet been able to contact the clinic."
bng@fnnews.com Kim Hee-sun Reporter