{"id":510,"date":"2026-02-19T11:36:32","date_gmt":"2026-02-19T11:36:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/?p=510"},"modified":"2026-02-25T04:54:20","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T04:54:20","slug":"inheritance-rights-forfeiture-south-korea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/inheritance-rights-forfeiture-south-korea\/","title":{"rendered":"Can You Strip an Abusive Parent&#8217;s Inheritance Rights in South Korea? Goo Hara Law Explained"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><!--\n============================================================\nAtlas Legal Blog HTML (English)\nTopic: Forfeiture of Inheritance Rights (Goo Hara Law, Civil Act Article 1004-2)\nAuthor: Park Soyoung, Managing Attorney\nReference: html_\uc0d8\ud50c_v5.txt \/ \ube14\ub85c\uadf8_\uc791\uc131_\uc9c0\uce68\uc11c_2026_v3\n============================================================\n\n[Yoast SEO Settings]\n- Focus Keyphrase: inheritance rights forfeiture South Korea\n- SEO Title: Can You Strip an Abusive Parent's Inheritance Rights in South Korea? Goo Hara Law (Civil Act Article 1004-2) Explained | Atlas Legal\n- Meta Description: South Korea's new Goo Hara Law allows courts to forfeit inheritance rights of parents who abandoned or abused their children. Learn the legal requirements, procedures, and the February 2026 Civil Act amendments.\n- URL Slug: \/inheritance-rights-forfeiture-south-korea\/\n- Tags: inheritance rights forfeiture, Goo Hara Law, South Korea inheritance law, Civil Act Article 1004-2, forced share reform\n============================================================\n--><\/p>\n<p><!-- ===== Article Schema ===== --><br \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n    \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n    \"@type\": \"Article\",\n    \"headline\": \"Can You Strip an Abusive Parent's Inheritance Rights in South Korea? Goo Hara Law (Civil Act Article 1004-2) Explained\",\n    \"description\": \"South Korea's new Goo Hara Law allows courts to forfeit inheritance rights of parents who abandoned or abused their children. Learn the legal requirements, procedures, and the February 2026 Civil Act amendments.\",\n    \"author\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Person\",\n        \"name\": \"Park Soyoung\",\n        \"jobTitle\": \"Attorney\",\n        \"worksFor\": {\n            \"@type\": \"LegalService\",\n            \"name\": \"Atlas Legal\",\n            \"url\": \"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\",\n            \"address\": {\n                \"@type\": \"PostalAddress\",\n                \"addressLocality\": \"Incheon\",\n                \"addressRegion\": \"Songdo\"\n            }\n        }\n    },\n    \"publisher\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n        \"name\": \"Atlas Legal\",\n        \"url\": \"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\"\n    },\n    \"datePublished\": \"2026-02-19\",\n    \"dateModified\": \"2026-02-19\",\n    \"mainEntityOfPage\": {\n        \"@type\": \"WebPage\"\n    }\n}\n<\/script><\/p>\n<p><!-- ===== FAQ Schema ===== --><br \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n    \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n    \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n    \"mainEntity\": [\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"Question\",\n            \"name\": \"What is the difference between disqualification from inheritance and a forfeiture of inheritance rights order in South Korea?\",\n            \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                \"text\": \"Disqualification from inheritance (Civil Act Article 1004) occurs automatically by operation of law when a heir commits serious crimes such as murder or forgery of a will \u2014 no court order is required. By contrast, a forfeiture of inheritance rights order (Civil Act Article 1004-2) is triggered by grounds such as serious breach of a duty of support or grossly unjust treatment, and only takes effect upon a formal ruling by a South Korean Family Court.\"\n            }\n        },\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"Question\",\n            \"name\": \"Can co-heirs petition for forfeiture of inheritance rights even if the decedent left no will in South Korea?\",\n            \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                \"text\": \"Yes. Under Civil Act Article 1004-2, Paragraph 3, co-heirs may file a petition directly with a Family Court even without a will, provided they do so within six months of learning that the person with grounds for forfeiture has become an heir. Missing this deadline extinguishes the right to petition.\"\n            }\n        },\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"Question\",\n            \"name\": \"Can a person whose inheritance rights have been forfeited still claim a forced share (forced heirship) in South Korea?\",\n            \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                \"text\": \"No. Once inheritance rights are forfeited, the person loses their status as an heir entirely and therefore cannot bring a forced-share (yurubun) return claim. This is the critical difference from a standard notarial will \u2014 a notarial will that simply disinherits someone leaves that person's heir status intact, allowing a forced-share claim. A forfeiture order eliminates the heir status itself, making any forced-share claim impossible.\"\n            }\n        },\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"Question\",\n            \"name\": \"What level of neglect qualifies as a 'serious' breach of the duty of support under South Korean law?\",\n            \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                \"text\": \"Under Civil Act Article 1004-2, the duty-of-support ground is limited to the duty owed to a minor child, and the breach must be 'serious' rather than a mere technical violation. Specific thresholds will become clearer as South Korean Family Courts accumulate case law. Factors such as the duration, severity, and intent behind the failure to provide support are expected to be considered together.\"\n            }\n        },\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"Question\",\n            \"name\": \"Who can now be subject to a forfeiture of inheritance rights order after the February 2026 Civil Act amendment in South Korea?\",\n            \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                \"text\": \"The second Civil Act amendment passed by the National Assembly on February 12, 2026 expanded the scope to cover all heirs \u2014 including lineal descendants (children) and spouses \u2014 not just lineal ascendants (parents) as under the first amendment. The amendment takes effect from the date of promulgation, and the expanded scope provisions apply retroactively to inheritances that commenced after the Constitutional Court's decision of April 25, 2024.\"\n            }\n        },\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"Question\",\n            \"name\": \"Can the children of a disinherited heir still inherit through representation in South Korea?\",\n            \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                \"text\": \"Yes. Under the February 12, 2026 amendment, lineal descendants (children and grandchildren) of a heir whose rights have been forfeited may still inherit through the right of representation. However, the spouse of the forfeited heir is not entitled to inherit through representation. This reflects the view that allowing a spouse \u2014 who shares economic interests with the forfeited heir \u2014 to inherit would be unfair (Ministry of Justice press release, February 12, 2026).\"\n            }\n        }\n    ]\n}\n<\/script><\/p>\n<p><!-- ===== LocalBusiness Schema ===== --><br \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n    \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n    \"@type\": \"LocalBusiness\",\n    \"name\": \"Atlas Legal\",\n    \"image\": \"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/logo.png\",\n    \"url\": \"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\",\n    \"telephone\": \"+82-32-864-8300\",\n    \"address\": {\n        \"@type\": \"PostalAddress\",\n        \"streetAddress\": \"323 Incheon Tower-daero, Tower B, Suite 2901 (Songdo-dong, Centroad)\",\n        \"addressLocality\": \"Incheon\",\n        \"addressRegion\": \"Yeonsu-gu, Incheon\",\n        \"addressCountry\": \"KR\"\n    },\n    \"priceRange\": \"$$\",\n    \"openingHoursSpecification\": {\n        \"@type\": \"OpeningHoursSpecification\",\n        \"dayOfWeek\": [\"Monday\",\"Tuesday\",\"Wednesday\",\"Thursday\",\"Friday\"],\n        \"opens\": \"09:00\",\n        \"closes\": \"18:00\"\n    }\n}\n<\/script><\/p>\n<p><!-- ===== CSS (mandatory \u2014 do not modify) ===== --><\/p>\n<style>\n    body {\n        font-family: Georgia, serif;\n        line-height: 1.6;\n        max-width: 1000px;\n        margin: 0 auto;\n        padding: 20px;\n        background-color: #f9f9f9;\n    }\n    .content-container {\n        background-color: white;\n        padding: 20px;\n        margin: 0;\n    }\n    h2 {\n        font-size: 22px;\n        color: #2c3e50;\n        margin-top: 30px;\n        margin-bottom: 10px;\n    }\n    h3 {\n        font-size: 20px;\n        color: #34495e;\n        margin-top: 20px;\n        margin-bottom: 10px;\n    }\n    p, li {\n        font-size: 18px;\n        color: #333;\n        margin-bottom: 10px;\n        margin-top: 0;\n    }\n    ul, ol {\n        padding-left: 25px;\n        margin: 10px 0;\n    }\n    li {\n        margin-bottom: 5px;\n    }\n    table {\n        width: 100%;\n        border-collapse: collapse;\n        margin: 15px 0;\n    }\n    th, td {\n        border: 1px solid #ddd;\n        padding: 10px;\n        text-align: left;\n        font-size: 16px;\n    }\n    th {\n        background-color: #f5f5f5;\n        font-weight: bold;\n    }\n    .toc {\n        padding: 15px;\n        border-radius: 0;\n        margin-bottom: 20px;\n        background-color: #f5f5f5;\n    }\n    .toc h2 {\n        font-size: 20px;\n        margin-top: 0;\n        margin-bottom: 10px;\n    }\n    .toc ul {\n        list-style-type: none;\n        padding-left: 0;\n        margin: 0;\n    }\n    .toc ul li {\n        margin-bottom: 5px;\n    }\n    .toc a {\n        text-decoration: none !important;\n        color: #3498db;\n        border-bottom: none !important;\n    }\n    .toc a:hover {\n        text-decoration: underline;\n    }\n    .story-hook {\n        padding: 15px 20px;\n        margin-bottom: 15px;\n        border-radius: 0;\n        background-color: #f5f5f5;\n    }\n    .story-hook p {\n        font-style: italic;\n        color: #555;\n        line-height: 1.6;\n        font-size: 17px;\n        margin: 0;\n    }\n    .direct-answer {\n        padding: 15px;\n        border-radius: 0;\n        margin-bottom: 20px;\n        font-weight: 500;\n        background-color: #f5f5f5;\n    }\n    .story-detail {\n        padding: 20px;\n        border-radius: 0;\n        margin: 20px 0;\n        background-color: #f5f5f5;\n    }\n    .story-detail h3 {\n        margin-top: 0;\n        font-size: 19px;\n        color: #2c3e50;\n    }\n    .story-detail p {\n        line-height: 1.8;\n        color: #444;\n    }\n    .disclaimer {\n        font-size: 15px;\n        color: #666;\n        font-style: italic;\n        margin-bottom: 15px;\n    }\n    .faq-section {\n        padding: 20px;\n        border-radius: 0;\n        margin: 30px 0;\n        background-color: #f5f5f5;\n    }\n    .faq-item {\n        margin-bottom: 20px;\n    }\n    .faq-question {\n        font-weight: bold;\n        color: #2c3e50;\n        margin-bottom: 8px;\n        font-size: 18px;\n    }\n    .faq-answer {\n        color: #555;\n        font-size: 17px;\n        line-height: 1.6;\n    }\n    .author-box {\n        background-color: #f8f9fa;\n        padding: 20px;\n        border-radius: 0;\n        margin-top: 30px;\n        border-left: 2px solid #722f37;\n    }\n    .author-box h3 {\n        margin-top: 0;\n        margin-bottom: 10px;\n        font-size: 20px;\n        color: #2c3e50;\n        font-weight: bold;\n    }\n    .author-box .author-name {\n        font-size: 18px;\n        font-weight: bold;\n        color: #333;\n        margin-bottom: 5px;\n    }\n    .author-box .author-info {\n        font-size: 16px;\n        color: #555;\n        margin-bottom: 5px;\n        line-height: 1.4;\n    }\n    .author-box a {\n        display: inline-block;\n        background-color: #722f37;\n        color: white;\n        padding: 12px 24px;\n        text-decoration: none;\n        border-radius: 6px;\n        font-size: 16px;\n        font-weight: bold;\n        border: 2px solid #722f37;\n        cursor: pointer;\n        box-shadow: 0 2px 4px rgba(114, 47, 55, 0.3);\n        margin-top: 5px;\n    }\n    br { display: none; }\n    strong { font-weight: bold; }\n    @media (max-width: 768px) {\n        body { padding: 10px; }\n        .content-container { padding: 15px; }\n        h2 { font-size: 18px; }\n        h3 { font-size: 17px; }\n        p, li { font-size: 16px; }\n        th, td { font-size: 14px; padding: 8px; }\n    }\n    .site-container, .content-area, .entry-content { padding: 0; margin: 0; }\n    .entry-content > *:first-child { margin-top: 0 !important; }\n    .entry-content { margin-top: 0px !important; }\n    .kb-row-container, .kb-column-container { margin: 0; padding: 0; }\n<\/style>\n<p><!-- ===== Body Content ===== --><\/p>\n<div class=\"content-container\">\n<p>    <!-- Table of Contents --><\/p>\n<div class=\"toc\">\n<h2>Table of Contents<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#section1\">1. Why Was the Goo Hara Law Needed? \u2014 Background<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#section2\">2. What Did South Korea&#8217;s Constitutional Court Rule? \u2014 Decision 2020Hun-Ka4<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#section3\">3. First Civil Act Amendment: What Does Article 1004-2 Provide?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#section4\">4. Second Civil Act Amendment: Passed by the National Assembly on February 12, 2026 \u2014 What Changed?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#section5\">5. How Do You Petition for Forfeiture of Inheritance Rights? \u2014 Two Procedures<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#section6\">6. How Does an Ordinary Notarial Will Differ from a Forfeiture-Intent Notarial Will?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#section7\">7. How Does Disqualification from Inheritance (Article 1004) Differ from a Forfeiture Order (Article 1004-2)?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#section8\">8. FAQ<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<p>    <!-- Story Hook (50\u201380 words) --><\/p>\n<div class=\"story-hook\">\n<p><strong>A Case That Changed the Law:<\/strong> When K-pop star Goo Hara died in 2019, her biological mother \u2014 absent for twenty years without a single phone call \u2014 came forward to claim her full inheritance as a matter of legal right. The fact that an absentee parent could simply walk in and inherit a child&#8217;s entire estate sparked nationwide outrage and ultimately forced the law to change.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>    <!-- Direct Answer (40\u201360 words) --><\/p>\n<div class=\"direct-answer\">\n        <strong>Direct Answer:<\/strong> Under Civil Act Article 1004-2 (the &#8220;Goo Hara Law&#8221;), which took effect on January 1, 2026 in South Korea, a Family Court may order the forfeiture of inheritance rights held by a lineal ascendant (parent) who seriously neglected a minor child or subjected the decedent to grossly unjust treatment. Once forfeited, the parent cannot claim a forced share either.\n    <\/div>\n<p>    <!-- Story Development (100\u2013150 words) --><\/p>\n<div class=\"story-detail\">\n<h3>Why Did a Law That Stood for 46 Years Finally Change?<\/h3>\n<p class=\"disclaimer\">* This account is based on publicly reported facts.<\/p>\n<p>The Goo Hara case was not a freak accident \u2014 it exposed a structural flaw that had existed since South Korea introduced forced heirship in 1977. For nearly 46 years, an heir who had abandoned or abused the decedent could still claim a forced share with no legal mechanism to stop them (see Constitutional Court of Korea, Decision 2020Hun-Ka4 et al., April 25, 2024). Even a parent who had mistreated and deserted a child could demand a portion of that child&#8217;s estate. The Constitutional Court formally acknowledged the unconstitutionality of this structure in 2024. The National Assembly responded with a first Civil Act amendment effective January 1, 2026, followed by a second, broader amendment that passed the plenary session on February 12, 2026. This article examines the Court&#8217;s reasoning and both rounds of legislative reform in detail.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>    <!-- Section 1 --><br \/>\n    <\/p>\n<h2 id=\"section1\">1. Why Was the Goo Hara Law Needed? \u2014 Background<\/h2>\n<p>Before the introduction of Article 1004-2, South Korea&#8217;s Civil Act provided only five grounds for automatic disqualification from inheritance under Article 1004. None of them covered abandonment or abuse of the decedent.<\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<th colspan=\"2\">Civil Act Article 1004 \u2014 Grounds for Disqualification from Inheritance<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"width:15%;\">Item<\/th>\n<th>Ground<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Item 1<\/td>\n<td>Intentionally killing or attempting to kill a lineal ascendant, the decedent, the decedent&#8217;s spouse, or a person holding a prior or equal rank in the order of succession<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Item 2<\/td>\n<td>Intentionally injuring a lineal ascendant, the decedent, or the decedent&#8217;s spouse, causing death<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Item 3<\/td>\n<td>Interfering, by fraud or duress, with a testamentary act or the revocation of a will by the decedent<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Item 4<\/td>\n<td>Inducing, by fraud or duress, the decedent to make a testamentary act<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Item 5<\/td>\n<td>Forging, altering, destroying, or concealing a will of the decedent<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<h3>The Legal Gap: Abandonment Was Not a Disqualifying Ground<\/h3>\n<p>All five grounds are confined to extreme criminal acts \u2014 murder, causing death by injury, and will-related fraud or forgery. As a result, a parent who had had no contact with their child for twenty years, or who had actively abused them, could still come forward after the child&#8217;s death to claim inheritance rights, including a forced share. South Korean law offered no mechanism to prevent this.<\/p>\n<p>The death of Goo Hara in 2019 brought this gap into sharp public relief. Her biological mother, who had been absent for two decades, claimed her full rights as an heir and sought to inherit everything Goo Hara left behind. The case triggered a broad social outcry over the legal structure that allowed a parent who had fulfilled none of their parental duties to receive their child&#8217;s estate, and it catalyzed legislative reform.<\/p>\n<p>    <!-- Section 2 --><br \/>\n    <\/p>\n<h2 id=\"section2\">2. What Did South Korea&#8217;s Constitutional Court Rule? \u2014 Decision 2020Hun-Ka4<\/h2>\n<p>On April 25, 2024, the Constitutional Court of Korea issued rulings on several Civil Act provisions governing forced heirship (Constitutional Court of Korea, Decision 2020Hun-Ka4 et al., April 25, 2024).<\/p>\n<h3>Summary of Rulings<\/h3>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<th>Provision<\/th>\n<th>Subject<\/th>\n<th>Ruling<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Civil Act Article 1112, Item 4<\/td>\n<td>Forced share for siblings<\/td>\n<td><strong>Unconstitutional<\/strong> (unanimous)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Civil Act Article 1112, Items 1\u20133<\/td>\n<td>Failure to provide for loss of forced share<\/td>\n<td><strong>Incompatible with the Constitution<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Civil Act Article 1118<\/td>\n<td>Failure to apply contribution provisions (Article 1008-2) to forced share<\/td>\n<td><strong>Incompatible with the Constitution<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Civil Act Articles 1113\u20131116<\/td>\n<td>Calculation and return of forced share<\/td>\n<td><strong>Constitutional<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<p>Source: Constitutional Court of Korea, Decision 2020Hun-Ka4 et al., April 25, 2024<\/p>\n<h3>Two Core Grounds for the Incompatibility Rulings<\/h3>\n<p>First, the Court held that recognizing a forced share even for heirs who had engaged in egregious conduct \u2014 such as long-term abandonment or abuse of the decedent \u2014 while providing <strong>no separate mechanism for loss of the forced share (or more broadly, forfeiture of inheritance rights)<\/strong> violated the decedent&#8217;s property rights.<\/p>\n<p>Second, the Court noted that because the contribution provisions of Civil Act Article 1008-2 were not applied to the forced share, the contribution system and the forced-share system operated in complete isolation from each other. This created the <strong>irrational result that even gifts received by a contributing heir as fair compensation for their contribution became subject to forced-share return claims<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h3>Specific Cases Cited in the Decision<\/h3>\n<p>The decision cited concrete examples illustrating the severity of the problem. In one case, the decedent had established a scholarship foundation during their lifetime, providing approximately KRW 11.8 billion in scholarships to 611 students over 16 years, and had bequeathed remaining real estate and receivables to the foundation upon death \u2014 yet some of the decedent&#8217;s children brought forced-share return claims against the foundation, creating serious operational difficulties (cited within Case 2021Hun-Ba72). In another, non-profit organizations that received bequests or gifts mortis causa from an unmarried decedent faced forced-share return claims from the decedent&#8217;s siblings, again threatening the organizations&#8217; viability (cited within Case 2021Hun-Ba91).<\/p>\n<p>Source: Constitutional Court of Korea, Decision 2020Hun-Ka4 et al., April 25, 2024 (merits section)<\/p>\n<h3>Legislative Deadline<\/h3>\n<p>The Constitutional Court set December 31, 2025 as the deadline for legislative reform, providing that the relevant provisions would lose legal effect from January 1, 2026 if not amended by that date.<\/p>\n<p>Source: Constitutional Court of Korea, Decision 2020Hun-Ka4 et al., April 25, 2024<\/p>\n<p>    <!-- Section 3 --><br \/>\n    <\/p>\n<h2 id=\"section3\">3. First Civil Act Amendment: What Does Article 1004-2 Provide?<\/h2>\n<p>Responding to the Constitutional Court&#8217;s call for legislation, the National Assembly enacted <strong>Civil Act Article 1004-2 (Forfeiture of Inheritance Rights)<\/strong> \u2014 commonly known as the &#8220;Goo Hara Law&#8221; \u2014 as a new provision following Article 1004. It entered into force on January 1, 2026.<\/p>\n<h3>Scope: Limited to Lineal Ascendants (Parents) under the First Amendment<\/h3>\n<p>The first amendment version of Article 1004-2 applies only to the decedent&#8217;s <strong>lineal ascendants (parents)<\/strong>. In other words, it operates only where a child predeceases their parent and the parent would otherwise inherit from the child&#8217;s estate. The expansion to all heirs came with the second amendment passed on February 12, 2026.<\/p>\n<h3>Two Grounds for Forfeiture<\/h3>\n<p>Under the first amendment, a parent&#8217;s inheritance rights may be forfeited on either of two grounds. Note that the duty-of-support ground is expressly <strong>limited to the duty owed to a minor child<\/strong>, and the breach must be &#8220;serious&#8221; \u2014 not merely a technical failure to perform.<\/p>\n<h3>Full Statutory Text<\/h3>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<th colspan=\"2\">Civil Act Article 1004-2 (Forfeiture of Inheritance Rights)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"width:20%;\">Paragraph \/ Item<\/th>\n<th>Text<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Para. 1 (main clause)<\/td>\n<td>Where a person who would become an heir is a lineal ascendant of the decedent and falls under any of the following items, the decedent may express an intention to forfeit that person&#8217;s inheritance rights by means of a notarial will as provided in Article 1068. In such case, the executor of the will shall petition a Family Court for forfeiture of that person&#8217;s inheritance rights.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Para. 1, Item 1<\/td>\n<td>Where that person has seriously breached the duty of support owed to the decedent (limited to the duty owed to a minor)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Para. 1, Item 2<\/td>\n<td>Where that person has committed a serious criminal act against the decedent, the decedent&#8217;s spouse, or the decedent&#8217;s lineal descendants (excluding cases falling under Article 1004), or has subjected them to grossly unjust treatment<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Para. 2<\/td>\n<td>A person who is to be the subject of forfeiture under the will referred to in Paragraph 1 may not serve as executor of that will.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Para. 3 (main clause)<\/td>\n<td>Where no will as referred to in Paragraph 1 exists, co-heirs may petition a Family Court for forfeiture of the inheritance rights of a person who is a lineal ascendant of the decedent and in respect of whom grounds listed in the following items exist, within six months of learning that such person has become an heir.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Para. 3, Item 1<\/td>\n<td>Where that person has seriously breached the duty of support owed to the decedent (limited to the duty owed to a minor)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Para. 3, Item 2<\/td>\n<td>Where that person has committed a serious criminal act against the decedent (excluding cases falling under Article 1004), or has subjected the decedent to grossly unjust treatment<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<p>    <!-- Section 4 --><br \/>\n    <\/p>\n<h2 id=\"section4\">4. Second Civil Act Amendment: Passed by the National Assembly on February 12, 2026 \u2014 What Changed?<\/h2>\n<p>On February 12, 2026, the National Assembly passed a further amendment to the Civil Act reflecting the Constitutional Court&#8217;s incompatibility rulings. The amendment takes effect <strong>from the date of promulgation<\/strong>. Its key changes are as follows.<\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<th>Item<\/th>\n<th>Before (First Amendment)<\/th>\n<th>After (Second Amendment)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\u2460 Scope of heirs subject to forfeiture<br \/>(Art. 1004-2)<\/td>\n<td>Lineal ascendants (parents) only<\/td>\n<td>Expanded to <strong>all heirs<\/strong>, including lineal descendants and spouses<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\u2461 Spouse&#8217;s right of representation<br \/>(Arts. 1001, 1003(2), 1010)<\/td>\n<td>Recognised on heir&#8217;s death and on disqualification from inheritance<\/td>\n<td>Recognised <strong>only on heir&#8217;s death<\/strong><br \/>(spouse&#8217;s right of representation excluded on disqualification or forfeiture)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\u2462 Compensatory gifts received by contributing heir<br \/>(Art. 1008, proviso)<\/td>\n<td>Subject to forced-share return<\/td>\n<td><strong>Excluded<\/strong> from forced-share return to the extent they correspond to the heir&#8217;s contribution<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\u2463 Principle governing forced-share return<br \/>(Art. 1115(1))<\/td>\n<td>Return of specific property (in specie)<\/td>\n<td>Return of <strong>monetary equivalent (in value)<\/strong><br \/>(eliminating co-ownership disputes arising from in-specie return)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<p>Source: Ministry of Justice press release, &#8220;Unfilial Heirs Will No Longer Be Able to Inherit&#8221; (February 12, 2026)<\/p>\n<h3>(1) Expanded Scope: All Heirs, Not Just Parents<\/h3>\n<p>Under the first amendment, only lineal ascendants (parents) could be subject to a forfeiture order. The second amendment extends the scope to <strong>all heirs \u2014 lineal ascendants, lineal descendants, and spouses alike<\/strong>. This means the mechanism now applies not only in cases like Goo Hara&#8217;s, where the problem was a parent, but also where a child or spouse has behaved egregiously toward the decedent.<\/p>\n<h3>(2) Spouse&#8217;s Right of Representation Adjusted<\/h3>\n<p>Previously, a spouse could inherit by representation both when their co-heir had died and when that co-heir had been disqualified from inheritance. The second amendment restricts this: where a co-heir is disqualified or forfeited, <strong>that co-heir&#8217;s spouse no longer inherits by representation<\/strong>. The rationale is that allowing a spouse \u2014 who shares economic interests with the forfeited heir \u2014 to inherit would be inequitable. By contrast, the <strong>lineal descendants (children and grandchildren) of a forfeited heir continue to be entitled to inherit by representation<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h3>(3) Compensatory Gifts to Contributing Heirs Excluded from Forced-Share Return<\/h3>\n<p>Gifts or bequests made to an heir as compensation for that heir&#8217;s special care of the decedent or special contribution to the preservation or increase of the decedent&#8217;s assets are now <strong>excluded from forced-share return obligations<\/strong> to the extent they correspond to the heir&#8217;s contribution. This addresses the &#8220;disconnection between contribution and forced share&#8221; that the Constitutional Court identified as an unconstitutional flaw.<\/p>\n<h3>(4) Forced-Share Return: In-Value Rather Than In-Specie<\/h3>\n<p>The previous rule required the return of specific property (the actual asset transferred). Because this created co-ownership between the forced-share claimant and the original recipient, it frequently generated additional disputes. The second amendment makes <strong>monetary compensation (return in value) the default<\/strong>, cutting off this secondary source of litigation.<\/p>\n<h3>Retroactivity Provisions<\/h3>\n<p>The amendment takes effect from the date of promulgation. Of the four items above, <strong>items \u2460 and \u2462 apply retroactively to inheritances that commenced after the Constitutional Court&#8217;s decision of April 25, 2024 and before the effective date of the amendment<\/strong>. This allows inheritance disputes that had been stalled pending legislation to be resolved in line with the public&#8217;s sense of fairness and justice.<\/p>\n<p>Source: Ministry of Justice press release, &#8220;Unfilial Heirs Will No Longer Be Able to Inherit&#8221; (February 12, 2026)<\/p>\n<p>    <!-- Section 5 --><br \/>\n    <\/p>\n<h2 id=\"section5\">5. How Do You Petition for Forfeiture of Inheritance Rights? \u2014 Two Procedures<\/h2>\n<p>Under Civil Act Article 1004-2, the procedure for seeking forfeiture of inheritance rights differs depending on whether the decedent left a will during their lifetime.<\/p>\n<h3>Route A: The Decedent Left a Notarial Will<\/h3>\n<p>The decedent may, during their lifetime, express an intention to forfeit a potential heir&#8217;s inheritance rights by way of a <strong>notarial will (\u516c\u6b63\u8b49\u66f8\u907a\u8a00) executed before a notary under Civil Act Article 1068<\/strong>. An ordinary handwritten will is not sufficient \u2014 the notarial form is mandatory.<\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"width:15%;\">Step<\/th>\n<th>Action<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Step 1<\/td>\n<td>During the decedent&#8217;s lifetime: execute a notarial will expressing intent to forfeit the relevant heir&#8217;s rights, and designate an executor (recommended)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Step 2<\/td>\n<td>Decedent passes away<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Step 3<\/td>\n<td>Confirm the executor&#8217;s identity and appointment (if no executor was designated, all co-heirs other than the person subject to forfeiture become executors by operation of law)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Step 4<\/td>\n<td>Executor petitions the Family Court for forfeiture of the relevant heir&#8217;s inheritance rights<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Step 5<\/td>\n<td>Family Court hearing and ruling ordering forfeiture of inheritance rights<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Result<\/td>\n<td>The relevant heir loses their inheritance rights and cannot bring a forced-share return claim<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<p>One critical point: under Civil Act Article 1004-2, Paragraph 2, the person who is to be the subject of forfeiture <strong>is disqualified from serving as executor of the will<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h3>Route B: No Will Was Left<\/h3>\n<p>Even where the decedent left no will, <strong>co-heirs may petition the Family Court directly<\/strong> under Civil Act Article 1004-2, Paragraph 3. The petition must be filed <strong>within six months of learning that the person with grounds for forfeiture has become an heir<\/strong>. Missing this deadline extinguishes the right, so prompt action is essential.<\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"width:15%;\">Step<\/th>\n<th>Action<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Step 1<\/td>\n<td>Decedent passes away (no will exists)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Step 2<\/td>\n<td>Co-heirs become aware of the grounds for forfeiture<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Step 3<\/td>\n<td>Co-heirs file a petition within six months of learning that the person with grounds has become an heir<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Step 4<\/td>\n<td>Co-heirs petition the Family Court for forfeiture of inheritance rights<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Step 5<\/td>\n<td>Family Court hearing and ruling ordering forfeiture of inheritance rights<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Result<\/td>\n<td>The relevant heir loses their inheritance rights and cannot bring a forced-share return claim<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<p>    <!-- Section 6 --><br \/>\n    <\/p>\n<h2 id=\"section6\">6. How Does an Ordinary Notarial Will Differ from a Forfeiture-Intent Notarial Will?<\/h2>\n<p>A common misconception in South Korean inheritance disputes is that a decedent can effectively exclude an heir simply by executing an ordinary notarial will that leaves them nothing. In reality, the two instruments produce entirely different legal consequences.<\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<th>Point of Comparison<\/th>\n<th>Ordinary Notarial Will (Disinheritance Only)<\/th>\n<th>Notarial Will Expressing Intent to Forfeit (Article 1004-2)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Heir&#8217;s legal status<\/td>\n<td>Heir status remains intact<\/td>\n<td>Inheritance rights are extinguished entirely<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Forced-share claim available?<\/td>\n<td>Yes \u2014 forced-share return claim remains available<\/td>\n<td>No \u2014 forced-share return claim is impossible<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Legal basis<\/td>\n<td>Civil Act Articles 1068 et seq.<\/td>\n<td>Civil Act Article 1004-2, Paragraph 1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<p>In other words, even if a decedent executes an ordinary notarial will bequeathing all assets to a specific child, a parent who is thereby left with nothing retains full heir status and may still recover a portion of the estate through a forced-share return claim. By contrast, where the decedent executes a notarial will expressing the intent to forfeit under Article 1004-2, and a Family Court subsequently issues a forfeiture order, that parent loses heir status entirely \u2014 making a forced-share return claim legally impossible.<\/p>\n<p>    <!-- Section 7 --><br \/>\n    <\/p>\n<h2 id=\"section7\">7. How Does Disqualification from Inheritance (Article 1004) Differ from a Forfeiture Order (Article 1004-2)?<\/h2>\n<p>Both mechanisms ultimately prevent an heir from inheriting, but they differ substantially in their triggering grounds, procedures, and scope.<\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<th>Point of Comparison<\/th>\n<th>Disqualification from Inheritance (Art. 1004)<\/th>\n<th>Forfeiture of Inheritance Rights (Art. 1004-2)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>How effect arises<\/td>\n<td>Automatic by operation of law \u2014 no court order required<\/td>\n<td>Requires a ruling by a Family Court<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Grounds<\/td>\n<td>Murder or attempted murder; causing death by injury; interference with a will by fraud or duress; inducing a will by fraud or duress; forging, altering, destroying or concealing a will<\/td>\n<td>Serious breach of duty of support; commission of a serious criminal act; grossly unjust treatment<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Scope of persons subject<\/td>\n<td>All heirs<\/td>\n<td>First amendment: lineal ascendants only \/ Second amendment (Feb. 12, 2026): all heirs<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Procedure<\/td>\n<td>None \u2014 operates automatically by law<\/td>\n<td>Notarial will + executor&#8217;s petition to court, or co-heirs&#8217; petition to court (within 6 months)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Forced-share claim<\/td>\n<td>Unavailable (heir status lost)<\/td>\n<td>Unavailable (inheritance rights forfeited)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<p>    <!-- FAQ Section --><br \/>\n    <\/p>\n<h2 id=\"section8\">8. FAQ<\/h2>\n<div class=\"faq-section\">\n<div class=\"faq-item\">\n<div class=\"faq-question\">Q1. What is the difference between disqualification from inheritance and a forfeiture of inheritance rights order in South Korea?<\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-answer\">A. Disqualification from inheritance (Civil Act Article 1004) occurs automatically by law when an heir commits serious crimes such as murder or forgery of a will \u2014 no court order is needed. A forfeiture of inheritance rights order (Civil Act Article 1004-2) requires a Family Court ruling and is triggered by different grounds, namely serious breach of a duty of support or grossly unjust treatment of the decedent.<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-item\">\n<div class=\"faq-question\">Q2. Can co-heirs petition for forfeiture even if the decedent left no will?<\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-answer\">A. Yes. Under Civil Act Article 1004-2, Paragraph 3, co-heirs may petition a Family Court directly even without a will. The petition must be filed within six months of learning that the person with grounds for forfeiture has become an heir. This deadline is strictly enforced.<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-item\">\n<div class=\"faq-question\">Q3. Can a person whose inheritance rights have been forfeited still claim a forced share?<\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-answer\">A. No. Forfeiture eliminates the person&#8217;s heir status entirely, which means they cannot bring a forced-share (yurubun) return claim. This is the decisive difference from an ordinary notarial will. Under an ordinary notarial will that simply disinherits someone, their heir status remains intact and a forced-share claim is still possible. A forfeiture order removes that possibility entirely.<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-item\">\n<div class=\"faq-question\">Q4. How serious must a breach of the duty of support be to qualify as grounds for forfeiture?<\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-answer\">A. Civil Act Article 1004-2 limits the duty-of-support ground to the duty owed to a minor child, and the breach must be &#8220;serious&#8221; rather than a mere technical failure. Precise thresholds will emerge as South Korean Family Courts develop case law. The duration, severity, and intent behind the failure to support are all expected to factor into the analysis.<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-item\">\n<div class=\"faq-question\">Q5. Who can now be subject to a forfeiture order after the February 2026 Civil Act amendment?<\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-answer\">A. The second amendment passed on February 12, 2026 expanded the scope to all heirs \u2014 including lineal descendants (children) and spouses \u2014 beyond the lineal ascendants (parents) covered by the first amendment. The amendment takes effect from promulgation, and items relating to expanded scope apply retroactively to inheritances that commenced after the April 25, 2024 Constitutional Court decision (Ministry of Justice press release, February 12, 2026).<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-item\">\n<div class=\"faq-question\">Q6. Can the children of a forfeited heir still inherit by representation in South Korea?<\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-answer\">A. Yes. Under the February 12, 2026 amendment, the lineal descendants (children and grandchildren) of a forfeited heir may inherit by representation. However, the spouse of a forfeited heir is not entitled to inherit by representation \u2014 reflecting the view that allowing a spouse who shares economic interests with the forfeited heir to inherit would be inequitable (Ministry of Justice press release, February 12, 2026).<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>    <!-- Closing Note --><\/p>\n<p>When a decedent executes a notarial will during their lifetime, whether that will merely disinherits a potential heir or goes further to express an intention to forfeit their inheritance rights under Article 1004-2 makes a fundamental difference to whether a forced-share return claim can later be brought. Careful legal review of the will&#8217;s content at the drafting stage is therefore essential.<\/p>\n<p class=\"disclaimer\">* This article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The legal outcome of any specific matter depends on the particular facts involved. Please consult a qualified attorney for advice on your individual situation.<\/p>\n<p>    <!-- Author Box: Park Soyoung --><\/p>\n<div class=\"author-box\">\n<h3>About the Author<\/h3>\n<div class=\"author-name\">Park Soyoung | Managing Attorney<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-info\">Family Law, Inheritance, Construction &amp; Real Estate Disputes<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-info\">Judicial Research and Training Institute, Class 33<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-info\">Korea University School of Law, LL.B.<\/div>\n<p>        <a href=\"https:\/\/        \n\n<div class=\"author-info\">Atlas Legal | Incheon Songdo, South Korea<\/div>\n<p>        atlaw.kr&#8221; target=&#8221;_blank&#8221; rel=&#8221;noopener noreferrer&#8221;>Visit Atlas Legal Website<\/a>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Table of Contents 1. Why Was the Goo Hara Law Needed? \u2014 Background 2. What Did South Korea&#8217;s Constitutional Court Rule? \u2014 Decision 2020Hun-Ka4 3. First Civil Act Amendment: What Does Article 1004-2 Provide? 4. Second Civil Act Amendment: Passed by the National Assembly on February 12, 2026 \u2014 What Changed? 5. How Do You&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kadence_starter_templates_imported_post":false,"_kad_post_transparent":"default","_kad_post_title":"default","_kad_post_layout":"default","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"default","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"default","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[408,409,406,405,407],"class_list":["post-510","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-civil","tag-civil-act-article-1004-2","tag-forced-share-reform","tag-goo-hara-law","tag-inheritance-rights-forfeiture","tag-south-korea-inheritance-law"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Can You Strip an Abusive Parent&#039;s Inheritance Rights in South Korea? Goo Hara Law Explained | Atlas Legal<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"South Korea&#039;s Goo Hara Law allows courts to forfeit a parent&#039;s inheritance rights for abandonment or abuse. Learn the requirements, procedures, and the February 2026 Civil Act amendments.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/inheritance-rights-forfeiture-south-korea\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"ko_KR\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Can You Strip an Abusive Parent&#039;s Inheritance Rights in South Korea? Goo Hara Law Explained | Atlas Legal\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"South Korea&#039;s Goo Hara Law allows courts to forfeit a parent&#039;s inheritance rights for abandonment or abuse. Learn the requirements, procedures, and the February 2026 Civil Act amendments.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/inheritance-rights-forfeiture-south-korea\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Atlas Legal Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-02-19T11:36:32+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-02-25T04:54:20+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"\ubc95\ubb34\ubc95\uc778 \uc544\ud2c0\ub77c\uc2a4\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"\uae00\uc4f4\uc774\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"\ubc95\ubb34\ubc95\uc778 \uc544\ud2c0\ub77c\uc2a4\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"\uc608\uc0c1 \ub418\ub294 \ud310\ub3c5 \uc2dc\uac04\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"19\ubd84\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/atlaw.kr\\\/en-blog\\\/inheritance-rights-forfeiture-south-korea\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/atlaw.kr\\\/en-blog\\\/inheritance-rights-forfeiture-south-korea\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"\ubc95\ubb34\ubc95\uc778 \uc544\ud2c0\ub77c\uc2a4\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/atlaw.kr\\\/en-blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/184bcdecc06f89fd6c36b29781165b55\"},\"headline\":\"Can You Strip an Abusive Parent&#8217;s Inheritance Rights in South Korea? Goo Hara Law Explained\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-19T11:36:32+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-25T04:54:20+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/atlaw.kr\\\/en-blog\\\/inheritance-rights-forfeiture-south-korea\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":3292,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/atlaw.kr\\\/en-blog\\\/#organization\"},\"keywords\":[\"Civil Act Article 1004-2\",\"forced share reform\",\"Goo Hara Law\",\"inheritance rights forfeiture\",\"South Korea inheritance law\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Civil\\\/Administrative\"],\"inLanguage\":\"ko-KR\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/atlaw.kr\\\/en-blog\\\/inheritance-rights-forfeiture-south-korea\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/atlaw.kr\\\/en-blog\\\/inheritance-rights-forfeiture-south-korea\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/atlaw.kr\\\/en-blog\\\/inheritance-rights-forfeiture-south-korea\\\/\",\"name\":\"Can You Strip an Abusive Parent's Inheritance Rights in South Korea? Goo Hara Law Explained | Atlas Legal\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/atlaw.kr\\\/en-blog\\\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-19T11:36:32+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-25T04:54:20+00:00\",\"description\":\"South Korea's Goo Hara Law allows courts to forfeit a parent's inheritance rights for abandonment or abuse. Learn the requirements, procedures, and the February 2026 Civil Act amendments.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/atlaw.kr\\\/en-blog\\\/inheritance-rights-forfeiture-south-korea\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"ko-KR\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/atlaw.kr\\\/en-blog\\\/inheritance-rights-forfeiture-south-korea\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/atlaw.kr\\\/en-blog\\\/inheritance-rights-forfeiture-south-korea\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"\ud648\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/atlaw.kr\\\/en-blog\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Can You Strip an Abusive Parent&#8217;s Inheritance Rights in South Korea? Goo Hara Law Explained\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/atlaw.kr\\\/en-blog\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/atlaw.kr\\\/en-blog\\\/\",\"name\":\"Atlas Legal English Blog\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/atlaw.kr\\\/en-blog\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/atlaw.kr\\\/en-blog\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"ko-KR\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/atlaw.kr\\\/en-blog\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Atlas Legal English Blog\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/atlaw.kr\\\/en-blog\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"ko-KR\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/atlaw.kr\\\/en-blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/atlaw.kr\\\/en-blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/3\\\/2025\\\/09\\\/\ud3f4\ub354-\uc0c1\ub2e8-\uc9c1\uc0ac\uac01\ud615.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/atlaw.kr\\\/en-blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/3\\\/2025\\\/09\\\/\ud3f4\ub354-\uc0c1\ub2e8-\uc9c1\uc0ac\uac01\ud615.png\",\"width\":540,\"height\":485,\"caption\":\"Atlas Legal English Blog\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/atlaw.kr\\\/en-blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/atlaw.kr\\\/en-blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/184bcdecc06f89fd6c36b29781165b55\",\"name\":\"\ubc95\ubb34\ubc95\uc778 \uc544\ud2c0\ub77c\uc2a4\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"ko-KR\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/d4c25916239244225f5f853b2ddf50fdcb7ea24d63347445261fe71c707cc558?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/d4c25916239244225f5f853b2ddf50fdcb7ea24d63347445261fe71c707cc558?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/d4c25916239244225f5f853b2ddf50fdcb7ea24d63347445261fe71c707cc558?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"\ubc95\ubb34\ubc95\uc778 \uc544\ud2c0\ub77c\uc2a4\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/atlaw.kr\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/atlaw.kr\\\/en-blog\\\/author\\\/prinz001\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Can You Strip an Abusive Parent's Inheritance Rights in South Korea? Goo Hara Law Explained | Atlas Legal","description":"South Korea's Goo Hara Law allows courts to forfeit a parent's inheritance rights for abandonment or abuse. Learn the requirements, procedures, and the February 2026 Civil Act amendments.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/inheritance-rights-forfeiture-south-korea\/","og_locale":"ko_KR","og_type":"article","og_title":"Can You Strip an Abusive Parent's Inheritance Rights in South Korea? Goo Hara Law Explained | Atlas Legal","og_description":"South Korea's Goo Hara Law allows courts to forfeit a parent's inheritance rights for abandonment or abuse. Learn the requirements, procedures, and the February 2026 Civil Act amendments.","og_url":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/inheritance-rights-forfeiture-south-korea\/","og_site_name":"Atlas Legal Blog","article_published_time":"2026-02-19T11:36:32+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-02-25T04:54:20+00:00","author":"\ubc95\ubb34\ubc95\uc778 \uc544\ud2c0\ub77c\uc2a4","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"\uae00\uc4f4\uc774":"\ubc95\ubb34\ubc95\uc778 \uc544\ud2c0\ub77c\uc2a4","\uc608\uc0c1 \ub418\ub294 \ud310\ub3c5 \uc2dc\uac04":"19\ubd84"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/inheritance-rights-forfeiture-south-korea\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/inheritance-rights-forfeiture-south-korea\/"},"author":{"name":"\ubc95\ubb34\ubc95\uc778 \uc544\ud2c0\ub77c\uc2a4","@id":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/#\/schema\/person\/184bcdecc06f89fd6c36b29781165b55"},"headline":"Can You Strip an Abusive Parent&#8217;s Inheritance Rights in South Korea? Goo Hara Law Explained","datePublished":"2026-02-19T11:36:32+00:00","dateModified":"2026-02-25T04:54:20+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/inheritance-rights-forfeiture-south-korea\/"},"wordCount":3292,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/#organization"},"keywords":["Civil Act Article 1004-2","forced share reform","Goo Hara Law","inheritance rights forfeiture","South Korea inheritance law"],"articleSection":["Civil\/Administrative"],"inLanguage":"ko-KR","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/inheritance-rights-forfeiture-south-korea\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/inheritance-rights-forfeiture-south-korea\/","url":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/inheritance-rights-forfeiture-south-korea\/","name":"Can You Strip an Abusive Parent's Inheritance Rights in South Korea? Goo Hara Law Explained | Atlas Legal","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/#website"},"datePublished":"2026-02-19T11:36:32+00:00","dateModified":"2026-02-25T04:54:20+00:00","description":"South Korea's Goo Hara Law allows courts to forfeit a parent's inheritance rights for abandonment or abuse. Learn the requirements, procedures, and the February 2026 Civil Act amendments.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/inheritance-rights-forfeiture-south-korea\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"ko-KR","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/inheritance-rights-forfeiture-south-korea\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/inheritance-rights-forfeiture-south-korea\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"\ud648","item":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Can You Strip an Abusive Parent&#8217;s Inheritance Rights in South Korea? Goo Hara Law Explained"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/","name":"Atlas Legal English Blog","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"ko-KR"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/#organization","name":"Atlas Legal English Blog","url":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"ko-KR","@id":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/09\/\ud3f4\ub354-\uc0c1\ub2e8-\uc9c1\uc0ac\uac01\ud615.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/09\/\ud3f4\ub354-\uc0c1\ub2e8-\uc9c1\uc0ac\uac01\ud615.png","width":540,"height":485,"caption":"Atlas Legal English Blog"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/#\/schema\/person\/184bcdecc06f89fd6c36b29781165b55","name":"\ubc95\ubb34\ubc95\uc778 \uc544\ud2c0\ub77c\uc2a4","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"ko-KR","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d4c25916239244225f5f853b2ddf50fdcb7ea24d63347445261fe71c707cc558?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d4c25916239244225f5f853b2ddf50fdcb7ea24d63347445261fe71c707cc558?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d4c25916239244225f5f853b2ddf50fdcb7ea24d63347445261fe71c707cc558?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"\ubc95\ubb34\ubc95\uc778 \uc544\ud2c0\ub77c\uc2a4"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/atlaw.kr"],"url":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/author\/prinz001\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/510","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=510"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/510\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":539,"href":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/510\/revisions\/539"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=510"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=510"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atlaw.kr\/en-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=510"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}