'120 Billion Inheritance Rumor' Hong Sangsoo... "Even Illegitimate Children Have Inheritance Rights"

Presumed to Be Recognized as Biological Child
Likely to Be Registered in Family Relations Registry

Director Hong Sang-soo (64) and actress Kim Min-hee (42) are reported to be expecting a child, and there is speculation that even an illegitimate child can become an heir if they are a direct descendant.

Actor Kim Min-hee (right) received the Best Actress Award last August at the 77th Locarno Film Festival for Hong Sang-soo's (left) film "Introduction." Photo by EPA Yonhap News

On the 17th, during YTN Radio's 'Attorney Jo In-seop's Counseling Center,' lawyer Kim Mi-ru explained, "Director Hong's illegitimate child will inherit property just like actor Jung Woo-sung's illegitimate child," adding, "Since an illegitimate child is still a child, according to Article 1 of the Civil Act regarding inheritance order, if they are a direct descendant, they become an heir," and "Naturally, they will inherit the property."

There are reports that Director Hong inherited 120 billion won from his mother in the past. Hong's mother, the late Jeon Ok-soon, was known as a prominent figure in the film industry. She was the first female film producer in the public arts sector and was also involved in publishing business in Japan.

Attorney Jo In-seop stated, "There are stories that Jeon Ok-soon, Director Hong's mother, passed on assets worth approximately 120 billion won to him," adding, "Although not confirmed, if Director Hong inherited property, then this illegitimate child would also have inheritance rights."

For an illegitimate child to have legal rights, a 'recognition (認知)' procedure must be completed. Since it is presumed that Director Hong has acknowledged the child as his own, the child to be born is expected to be registered as an illegitimate child in the family relations registry. Lawyer Park Kyung-nae said, "If Director Hong acknowledges (the child), the child can be registered in the father's family relations registry," adding, "Currently, the spouse listed in Director Hong's family relations registry is the legal spouse (Mr. A), but the child will be registered as his offspring."

Lawyer Kim explained, "The basic inheritance ratio is 1.5 for the spouse and 1 for the children, but various factors must be considered when inheriting, so the statutory inheritance shares are not always applied as such," and continued, "If Director Hong leaves a will granting all his assets to Ms. Kim and the illegitimate child, the current spouse Mr. A would likely only be able to claim the statutory reserved portion." She added, "The reserved portion allows recognition of only 50% of the statutory inheritance share, so the amount inherited would be significantly less than the full inheritance share."

Meanwhile, Dispatch reported that Ms. Kim is currently six months pregnant and is expected to give birth this spring. It is known that she found out about the pregnancy last summer. The two reportedly had a regular prenatal checkup together on the 15th. They are said to be living as a couple at present.