Following the sudden death of the late Seo Hee-won, the controversy surrounding the inheritance left behind and the custody of her two children is heating up across the Chinese-speaking world.
Local Taiwanese media reported that “Gu Jun-yeop and the late Seo Hee-won registered their marriage in Korea but did not do so in Taiwan.” If this claim is true, legally, Gu Jun-yeop is not considered Seo Hee-won’s spouse in Taiwan, raising questions about whether he can inherit the estimated 120 billion won (600 million yuan) estate.
◇ Scenario for Distribution of Seo Hee-won's Estate
If there is a will from Seo Hee-won, the estate will be distributed according to the will; if there is no will, under Taiwanese law, Gu Jun-yeop and the two children are expected to inherit one-third each. However, if Gu Jun-yeop is not recognized as a spouse due to the lack of marriage registration, the possibility of him being deprived of inheritance rights increases.
In this regard, local legal experts analyze that Gu Jun-yeop is likely to not be recognized as a legal heir due to the lack of marriage registration.
The custody issue of the two children born to the late Seo Hee-won and her ex-husband Wang Xiao-fei (汪小菲) is also a major concern. According to Taiwanese law, custody automatically transfers to the surviving parent (Wang Xiao-fei) in the event of death after divorce. Currently, Gu Jun-yeop is only legally related as a relative, so Wang Xiao-fei is likely to automatically become the guardian of the two children, and he will likely manage the children’s inheritance as well. In this case, it is interpreted that two-thirds of the estate is likely to belong to Wang Xiao-fei.
The possibility of legal battles between Gu Jun-yeop and Wang Xiao-fei is also considered high. Wang Xiao-fei has continuously engaged in legal disputes, refusing to pay living expenses after the marriage of Seo Hee-won and Gu Jun-yeop. Last year, Seo Hee-won applied for compulsory execution in court and even obtained a ruling to seize Wang Xiao-fei’s assets in Taiwan.
◇ Will it Lead to a Lawsuit Again?
After securing custody, Wang Xiao-fei is likely to manage the children’s inheritance, and many speculate that Gu Jun-yeop and Seo Hee-won’s family will take legal action to maintain their inheritance rights and custody.
The legal community predicts that if Gu Jun-yeop claims inheritance rights, a court battle with Wang Xiao-fei will be inevitable.
In the Chinese-speaking world, the debate over “Who will protect the 120 billion won and the children?” is intensifying. The controversy surrounding the late Seo Hee-won’s estate and the future of the children may not just be a simple property dispute, but a battle of pride for Gu Jun-yeop to protect Seo Hee-won’s last love.
Will Gu Jun-yeop be able to survive the legal battle? And what choice will Wang Xiao-fei make for the children’s future?
Now, what remains is for the law and time to decide. And all we can hope is that Gu Jun-yeop’s last love does not end in tears.
[Kim Seung-hye, MK Sports Reporter]
