Six years have passed since the death of the late Goo Hara.
Goo Hara died on Nov. 24, 2019, at age 28.
At the time, she was found dead at her home in Cheongdam-dong, Seoul. A police investigation later found no criminal suspicions. It was also reported that a short handwritten note was found on a table at the scene. The sudden, tragic news of her passing at such a young age drew deep sorrow.
Goo Hara debuted with Kara after participating in the group's 2008 mini first album and was an idol star who led Kara's heyday with hits such as "Pretty Girl," "Mister," "Jumping" and "Lupin." As the Korean Wave grew in popularity, Kara enjoyed great success in Japan. Alongside Girls' Generation and Wonder Girls as representative Korean girl groups, Kara received love from fans at home and abroad, and Goo Hara served as the group's center and a doll-like visual member.
However, during her solo activities she endured a difficult time due to a legal battle with her former boyfriend, hairdresser Choi Jong-beom. Choi was sentenced to one year in prison on charges including injury and threats against the late singer during his lifetime.
After her death, she drew attention as the subject of a Civil Act amendment commonly called the "Goo Hara law." The "Goo Hara law" included conditions that could lead to loss of inheritance rights if an heir failed to fulfill their support obligations to the decedent or committed serious criminal acts such as abuse.
The "Goo Hara law" began with a legislative push from the late singer's older brother, Goo Ho-in. After her death, her biological mother suddenly appeared and engaged in an inheritance dispute.
Goo Hara's biological mother had left home and lost contact when the late singer was only 9 years old and appeared at the funeral with a lawyer 20 years later. Despite that, she reportedly demanded half of the proceeds from the sale of the late singer's real estate, sparking public outrage.
Goo Ho-in filed a petition for a judgment on the division of inheritance against the biological mother for failing to fulfill her duty of care, and the Gwangju Family Court recognized the contribution of the father who raised her and ruled on an inheritance split of 60:40.
From March 2020, a legislative petition for the "Goo Hara law" was promoted and even advanced to a bill in the National Assembly. Although the bill was scrapped due to term expiration in the 20th and 21st National Assembly amid partisan conflict, it passed the plenary session in the 22nd National Assembly last year about three months before the late singer's fifth anniversary, and is set to take effect in January 2026.
Meanwhile, Kara made a full-group comeback in July 2022 with the new song "When I Move" after seven years. In that context, Kara members left the message "Hara is still with us," which added to the poignancy.
[Photo] OSEN DB.
[OSEN]