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 responsibility. The announcement was made by the Supreme Court of Korea on December 30 as part of its 2026 Judicial Reform Prospects Report, which outlines major legal and institutional changes expected in the first half of next year.
Formally an amendment to the civil code, the Goo Hara Act allows courts to limit or revoke the inheritance rights of parents who have failed to fulfill their child-rearing obligations or have committed abuse or serious crimes against their children. Under the new law, parents who have abandoned, severely neglected or abused their minor children can no longer automatically inherit their assets upon the child’s death.
Key provisions of the Goo Hara Law
Under the revised law, if a biological parent:
- They have seriously breached their duty to raise or support a child during the child’s minority
- They have committed serious criminal acts against the deceased, his or her spouse or his or her direct descendants
- Engaged in extremely unfair or abusive treatment
The deceased can explicitly declare his or her intention to disinherit that parent through a notarized will. The executor can then make an application to the Family Court to confirm the loss of inheritance rights. Even in cases where there is no will, co-heirs can apply to the family court within six months of learning that a parent eligible 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 has allowed parents who have abandoned or abused their children to inherit without restriction, thereby promoting fairness, responsibility within family relationships, and substantive justice in inheritance cases.
Background: Goo Hara’s legacy
The legislation has its roots in November 2019, following the death of K-pop star Goo Hara, a former member of KARA. After her disappearance, public outrage erupted when it emerged that her biological mother, who had reportedly abandoned her in childhood, had tried to claim half of her inheritance.
In response, Goo Hara’s family filed a legislative petition calling for reforms to prevent parents who neglected their children from benefiting financially after their deaths.
Although the bill was presented during the 21st National Assembly, it failed to advance to formal debate and was automatically discarded at the end of the legislature. The Ministry of Justice reintroduced the bill in June 2022, reigniting discussions about ethical inheritance rights and parental responsibility.
After about two years of revision, the bill was finally approved by a legislative subcommittee. Once all procedural steps are completed, the Goo Hara Act will officially come into force from 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 automatically granted to parents who have failed in their basic caring duties. The law aims to protect victims of neglect and abuse by aligning legal outcomes with principles of equity and social responsibility.
Sources: Nate
