Japanese kitchen brand Cleanup Kitchen is facing criticism from consumers in South Korea for delaying construction despite receiving substantial deposits. One consumer reported, "I signed a contract in mid-January with a promise of completion, but the construction has been delayed for nearly four months."
According to consumer A, the South Korean distributor of the Japanese kitchen system brand has not completed the installation despite receiving a deposit of 60 million won. A contract was signed in late November for kitchen systems and tables, with a request to finish the work before moving in January, but the project remains stalled. Photos provided by the consumer show exposed plumbing and wiring, with walls marked but no kitchen furniture present at the site.
The company attributed the delays to a shortage of parts in Japan and shipping delays, but A stated that they have not provided a clear timeline for completion or solutions to the issues.
The situation has been exacerbated by the company's lack of communication. A expressed frustration, saying, "The company has avoided contact or failed to respond to messages, and I was even blocked from receiving calls. The Gangnam showroom where I signed the contract has closed, and they haven't informed me of its new location." A also mentioned that a written promise to complete the installation within a week last month was not honored.
On May 11, a visit to the Cleanup Kitchen showroom in Gangnam revealed that demolition was underway. The sign remained, but most of the interior had been removed. A staff member at the site stated, "Demolition started the day before, and I have no information on where they are relocating."
A representative from the domestic distributor explained in a phone call that delays were caused by the impact of the Middle East conflict, which has disrupted parts supply and increased raw material prices by over 30%, affecting the construction schedule. Cleanup Kitchen's headquarters in Japan stated, "There is currently nothing we can do to assist from Japan, but we will report that there are inquiries regarding this matter."
Consumer complaints related to delays and incomplete work in interior construction have been steadily increasing. According to data submitted to the National Assembly by Kim Seung-won, a member of the Democratic Party, the Korea Consumer Agency recorded 25,476 consumer consultations related to interior design from 2020 to August of last year. Of these, 6,266 cases, or 24.6%, were related to incomplete contracts, while 6,827 cases, or 26.8%, involved quality issues.
During the same period, 2,556 applications for consumer compensation related to interior design were filed, but the average settlement rate at the compensation stage was only 34%. This means that 6 to 7 out of 10 victims do not recover their losses.
An industry insider noted, "If some construction has been completed, it is difficult to apply fraud charges because it cannot be seen as intentional deception. For high-value interior contracts, it is essential to specify materials, delivery times, compensation for delays, and liability for defects in the contract."
Additionally, a survey conducted by the Korea Consumer Agency involving 40,000 people included interior design in a list of high-risk consumer markets, alongside wedding services and school uniforms. Kim Seung-won remarked, "Despite thousands of cases of interior construction damage occurring each year, consumer compensation remains inadequate. The consistent occurrence of these issues reflects a failure in management and oversight, as well as systemic neglect."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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