South Korean singer Psy (Park Jae Sang), famous for his global hit “Gangnam Style,” had his luxury villa in Seoul’s exclusive UN Village seized due to unpaid fines related to illegal construction on the property. However, the property was later released after the fines were paid.
According to a report by Biz. Hankook on Monday, the villa was seized because Psy failed to comply with a past order to correct illegal changes made to the property. The fines, known as “enforcement fines,” were imposed for not adhering to an administrative order to fix the violations. These fines are typically used by local authorities to enforce compliance with building codes and can be levied repeatedly until the required actions are taken.
In September 2008, Psy purchased a duplex unit in The House, a luxury villa complex located in the upscale UN Village neighborhood of Hannam-dong in the Yongsan District of Seoul. The villa was bought for approximately 2.2 billion won (about $1.6 million) and an adjacent office space for around 370 million won (approximately $265,000). Psy lived in the villa until 2020 when he moved out and began renting the property.
The legal troubles surrounding the property stem from unauthorized alterations made to the building. These changes included illegal extensions and modifications to the structure, which Psy failed to address despite being issued a correction order by local authorities.
The issue came to light when a complaint was filed with the Yongsan District Office, alleging that the property had been illegally expanded. Specifically, the complaint pointed out that the shared staircase connecting the duplex and the office had been converted into a single living space. After an inspection, the Yongsan District Office confirmed that the complaint was valid. In December of the following year, additional violations were discovered, including unauthorized extensions that involved reinforced concrete inside the house.
The Yongsan District Office issued a correction order to Psy and his wife, citing two South Korean Building Act violations: unauthorized changes to the property’s use and illegal extensions. However, the district imposed enforcement fines when they failed to comply with the correction order. These fines went unpaid for over a year, leading the local government to seize the property in May.
The villa was seized until October 28, when Psy paid the outstanding fines in full, resulting in the lifting of the seizure.
In response to the reports, Psy’s agency, P Nation, issued a statement clarifying the situation. “Psy has not changed the property’s use or undertaken any illegal expansions. He was only made aware of the illegal extensions that existed at the time of the original construction,” the statement read.
The agency further explained, “The enforcement fines were delayed due to a late review of the notice, but the full amount has now been paid.” They added, “We are preparing to rectify the illegal extensions in collaboration with other villa owners and will hire a construction company to carry out the necessary repairs.”
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