Court orders closure of Ice Lab Cafe

South Korean dessert shop Ice Lab Cafe at Orchard Shopping Centre has been closed by court order.

Its windows are covered by paper sheets while there are four pages of court documents pasted on its glass doors.

Dated December 28, the court order states that Chungdam International, the company behind Ice Lab Cafe, has to vacate the premises by January 24 and have its fixed assets there seized by the court bailiff. The order was ruled in favour of Sarika Connoisseur Cafe, which owns The Connoisseur Concerto (TCC) coffee chain in Singapore.

The court ordered Chungdam to pay Sarika $369,200, interest of $9567, an extra annual interest of 12 per cent on the two sums from October 12 until payment, monthly “double rent” of $171,200 from October 12 until possession of the property, and an extra cost of $10,000.

It is no laughing matter for South Korean comedian Shin Jung-hwan, who opened Ice Lab Cafe next to 313@Somerset shopping mall in December 2015. The 80-seater eatery offered shaved ice desserts (bingsu) in various flavours. A second outlet opened near Bugis Village in 2016 is still in business.

Meanwhile, the former singer has announced his return to the South Korean entertainment industry after signing with management agency Koen Stars.

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