An interior construction firm that worked on the presidential office and residence under former President Yoon Suk-yeol won a partial victory in a first-trial ruling on its lawsuit against the state over unpaid construction fees.
The 18th Civil Division of the Seoul Central District Court, presided over by Chief Judge Ryu Seung-woo, ruled partially in favor of the plaintiff on the 13th in a 900 million won ($634,000) construction fee claim filed by the head of the interior firm, identified as Company A, against the state. The court ordered the state to pay Company A about 585 million won ($412,000). The first-trial decision came about two years after the suit was filed in November 2024.
After closing arguments, the court last month issued a recommendation for settlement calling on the state to pay Company A about 700 million won ($493,000), but the state filed an objection, leading to the ruling on the 13th.
Company A carried out work on part of the main building of the presidential office and the official residence of the chief of the Presidential Security Service, among other sites, from April to October 2022 at the request of the security service, before the Yoon government took office. The head of Company A then filed suit against the state in November 2024, saying part of the construction payment had not been made.