Late Goo Hara's Older Brother Petitions for 'Goo Hara Act' Legislation: "Parents Who Abandon Children Should Have No Inheritance Rights"

Singer Goo Hara. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Yeon-ju] Amid ongoing legal disputes over the inheritance of the late singer Goo Hara, a former member of the group Kara who passed away last November, Goo's older brother, Goo Mo, has submitted a legislative petition to the National Assembly to amend inheritance laws.

On the 18th, No Jong-eon, a lawyer from Law Firm S and legal representative of Goo Mo, stated in a press release, "We have submitted a legislative petition to the National Assembly for the enactment of the 'Goo Hara Act.'"

Lawyer No explained, "Even if the Goo Hara Act is enacted, the revised law will not be immediately applied to Hara's case," adding, "We petitioned for legislation with the hope that the tragedy of Hara, who was abandoned by her biological mother during childhood and suffered from loneliness and longing, will never happen again."

The main content of the 'Goo Hara Act' is to add "those who have grossly neglected their duty of protection and support toward direct ascendants or descendants" to the current law, which only recognizes disqualification from inheritance in cases such as family murder or will forgery.

Under current law, Goo's biological mother is criticized for abandoning the home during Goo's childhood and neglecting her duty of care, but she can still inherit half of Goo's estate. This is because there are no legal provisions restricting inheritance rights of parents who fail to fulfill their child-rearing obligations.

Earlier, on the 3rd, Goo Mo filed a lawsuit for division of inheritance property against the biological mother. According to Goo Mo, the biological mother claimed that direct ascendants should receive 50% of the inheritance according to the order of succession, but Goo's biological father did not accept her demand.

At that time, Goo Mo said in an interview with a media outlet, "I hoped there would be no trouble over my sister's property, but I feel so wronged that I cannot live, so I decided to file a lawsuit with the thought of protecting my sister."

He also said, "(At Goo Hara's funeral) the biological mother said, 'Your father won't let me wear the funeral attire.' I also did not want her to wear the funeral attire at the funeral, so I kicked her out, but two days after the funeral, she hired two lawyers."

He added, "It was so absurd. She abandoned us before, but hiring lawyers to claim the inheritance is something I cannot accept," expressing his indignation.

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