From now on, children who abandon or abuse their parents will not be able to inherit their parents' property.
The Ministry of Justice said on the 12th that a bill to amend the Civil Act, which restricts the inheritance rights of so-called "immoral heirs" who seriously violate their duty of support and protects gifts received by "contributing heirs" who faithfully supported the decedent, passed the National Assembly.
Earlier, after singer Goo Hara died, the so-called "Goo Hara Act" (amended Civil Act), proposed amid a dispute over her birth mother's inheritance, passed the National Assembly and took effect on Jan. 1 this year. Accordingly, under the current Civil Act, when the immoral heir is a lineal ascendant (parent), they cannot inherit the child's property.
The Civil Act amendment passed by the National Assembly on the day expands the scope of "immoral heirs" to include all heirs such as lineal descendants (children) and spouses.
The Civil Act amendment also limits claims for compulsory portion restitution against heirs who supported the decedent or contributed to maintaining or increasing the property. As a result, it will be harder to encroach on gifts or bequests of a compensatory nature.
Earlier in 2024, the Constitutional Court issued a decision of incompatibility with the Constitution regarding Article 1112 of the Civil Act and related provisions, which did not separately define grounds for loss of the compulsory portion. Since the law was not amended afterward, numerous compulsory portion lawsuits have been delayed.
Minister Jung Sung-ho of the Ministry of Justice said, "With this amendment, we can protect the rights of rightful heirs," and added, "We will work to establish a fair and reasonable inheritance system that meets the public's expectations."