Family feud over Goo Hara estate: late singer’s brother sues their estranged mother, who walked out nearly 20 years ago and wants half her money
- Goo Hara’s mother, who walked out on her family, made contact after nearly 20 years to claim half her estate
- Her brother has filed a lawsuit against their mother, claiming she has no right to the inheritance
By Kwak Yeon-soo
The brother of late K-pop star Goo Hara’s brother is currently in a legal battle with their estranged mother over the singer’s estate. Her elder brother, Goo Ho-in, has now turned to the courts to seek a ruling on the division of the K-pop star’s inheritance.
Their mother, who abandoned Hara and her brother as children, has instructed her lawyers to seek 50 per cent of the star’s estate. Under South Korean law, even parents who have not taken care of or lost contact with their children have the right to inherit half of a deceased child’s estate.
In a statement issued through his lawyer, Goo Hara’s brother said their mother’s request should be rejected because she left them when they were young.
“Mr Goo was shocked by his mother’s unreasonable demands, and has decided to file a lawsuit against her,” said the lawyer, Roh Jong-eon. “Their mother – surnamed Song – left them when he was 11 and Hara was nine, and didn’t contact them for nearly 20 years. They both suffered traumatic childhoods due to their mother abandoning the family.”