South Korea is set to implement the long-awaited “Goo Hara Act” starting January 1, 2026, marking a major shift in inheritance law and parental accountability. The announcement was made by the Supreme Court of Korea on December 30 as part of its 2026 Judicial Reform Outlook Report, which outlines key legal and institutional changes scheduled for the first half of next year.
Formally an amendment to the Civil Code, the Goo Hara Act allows courts to restrict or revoke inheritance rights of parents who failed to fulfill their child-rearing obligations or committed abuse or serious crimes against their children. Under the new law, parents who abandoned, severely neglected, or mistreated their minor children may no longer automatically inherit their assets in the event of the child’s death.
Key Provisions of the Goo Hara Act
Under the revised law, if a biological parent:
- Seriously violated their duty to raise or support a child during the child’s minority
- Committed grave criminal acts against the deceased, their spouse, or direct descendants
- Engaged in extremely unjust or abusive treatment
The deceased may explicitly state their intention to disinherit that parent through a notarized will. The executor of the will can then file a petition with the Family Court to confirm the loss of inheritance rights. Even in cases where no will exists, co-heirs are permitted to petition the Family Court within six months of learning that a parent who qualifies for disinheritance has become a legal heir.
The Supreme Court emphasized that the purpose of the law is to correct a long-standing legal imbalance that allowed parents who abandoned or abused their children to inherit without restriction, thereby promoting fairness, responsibility within family relationships, and substantive justice in inheritance cases.
Background: The Legacy of Goo Hara
The legislation traces its roots back to November 2019, following the death of K-pop star Goo Hara, a former member of KARA. After her passing, public outrage erupted when it emerged that her biological mother who had reportedly abandoned her during childhood sought to claim half of her inheritance.
In response, Goo Hara’s family submitted a legislative petition calling for reforms to prevent parents who neglected their children from benefiting financially after their death.
Although the bill was introduced during the 21st National Assembly, it failed to advance to formal debate and was automatically discarded at the end of the legislative term. The Ministry of Justice reintroduced the bill in June 2022, reigniting discussions around ethical inheritance rights and parental responsibility.
After approximately two years of review, the bill was finally approved by a legislative subcommittee. With all procedural steps completed, the Goo Hara Act will officially be enforced starting January 1, 2026.
The enactment of the Goo Hara Act is widely seen as a landmark legal reform, reflecting growing public consensus that inheritance should not be granted automatically to parents who failed in their basic duties of care. The law aims to protect victims of abandonment and abuse while aligning legal outcomes with principles of fairness and social responsibility.
Sources: Nate
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