Jeon Du-hwan's Children Renounce Inheritance... "Will Not Hold Grandchildren Responsible"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] It has been confirmed that all the children of former President the late Jeon Du-hwan have renounced their inheritance.

Among them, the 5·18 organizations that filed a damages claim lawsuit related to Jeon’s memoir stated that since the lawsuit is to hold historical responsibility, if Jeon’s wife Lee Soon-ja and grandchildren jointly inherit, they will withdraw the claim against the grandchildren.

On the 25th, the Civil Division 2 of the Gwangju High Court (Chief Judge Choi In-gyu) held an appellate trial hearing for the damages claim lawsuit filed by four 5·18 organizations and the bereaved family of the late Father Jo Bi-o, represented by Father Jo Young-dae, against Jeon and his son Jeon Jae-guk.

This lawsuit required succession procedures following the death of Jeon, the memoir author, on November 23 last year. Jeon’s legal counsel stated in a previous trial that his wife Lee was to receive the status of sole legal heir.

However, under civil law, a spouse inherits with the same qualification as the first-priority heirs, so to receive sole inheritance, a division agreement of the inheritance property must be made. While the agreement has not yet been reached, all four children (three sons and one daughter) have renounced their inheritance, creating the possibility that the grandchildren and Lee will inherit together. Jeon’s lawyer said at the trial, "The grandchildren are also considering the procedure to renounce inheritance."

In response, the lawyers for the 5·18 organizations stated, "The lawsuit has significant symbolic meaning to hold Jeon historically responsible for making false claims related to 5·18 and damaging the honor of the parties involved," adding, "To prevent trial delays, we will maintain the damages claim only for the inheritance share of wife Lee."

The 5·18 organizations filed a damages claim lawsuit in June of the same year, alleging that Jeon defamed the May 18 Democratic Uprising and damaged the honor of Father Jo Bi-o, a witness to the military helicopter shooting, in his memoir published in April 2017. The first trial ruled that Jeon and his son each pay 15 million won to the four 5·18 organizations and 10 million won to Father Jo Young-dae.