Starting in 2026, the so-called “Goo Hara Law,” which prevents parents who have not supported their minor children from inheriting, will be officially enforced.
On the 30th of last month, the Supreme Court announced major judicial system changes for the first half of 2026, and this announcement included the “Goo Hara Law.”
The “Goo Hara Law” gained attention when Goo Ho In, the brother of the late Goo Hara who passed away in 2019, petitioned for its legislation in March 2020, saying, “Our biological mother, who abandoned young Goo Hara and was out of contact for 20 years, is trying to claim half of the inheritance. Please make sure my sister’s death isn’t in vain.”
Goo Ho In also filed a lawsuit demanding the division of inheritance against their biological mother, who failed to fulfill her childcare duties. The Gwangju Family Court recognized the father’s contribution in raising Goo Hara and ruled the inheritance split as 60:40. Following this, the legislative petition for the “Goo Hara Law” was promoted starting in March 2020 and was even proposed in the National Assembly.
Although the bill was shelved in the 20th and 21st National Assembly due to political disputes and expired terms, it passed the plenary session in the 22nd National Assembly in 2024, about three months before the fifth anniversary of Goo Hara’s passing, and will be fully enforced starting in 2026.
According to the “Goo Hara Law,” from January 1, 2026, ascendants of the deceased can be stripped of inheritance rights if they seriously neglected their duty to support the deceased when the deceased was a minor, or if they committed serious crimes or extremely unreasonable acts against the deceased or the deceased’s spouse or lineal descendants. Actual loss of inheritance rights occurs if requested by the deceased’s will or co-heirs and accepted by the family court.
As the “Goo Hara Law” begins enforcement this year, on the 31st of last month, Goo Ho In posted on his personal social media, “From tomorrow, the Goo Hara Law is finally being enforced!! Wishing everyone a great remaining 25 years, and good health, many blessings, and happiness in 2026~!“
