Hong Sang-soo and Kim Min-hee Expecting a Child: Legal Implications of Inheritance
As Hong Sang-soo and Kim Min-hee prepare for the arrival of their child, attention is turning to the implications of inheritance for the couple. On March 14, the YouTube channel 'Viewport' released a video titled 'How Much Do We Have the Right to Know About Celebrities' Private Lives?' featuring host Seo Dong-joo alongside divorce attorney Yang Na-rae and cultural critic Ha Jae-geun discussing the couple's situation.
Hong Sang-soo and Kim Min-hee have been involved in a controversial relationship since meeting on the set of the film 'Right Now, Wrong Then' in 2015. Their affair has persisted for nearly a decade, despite Hong's unsuccessful attempts to divorce his wife in 2016 and a subsequent loss in a divorce lawsuit in 2019. Recently, Kim Min-hee's pregnancy has sparked public interest, as she is expected to give birth this spring.
Attorney Yang addressed the stigma surrounding the term 'illegitimate child,' noting that many people question whether such children should inherit. She clarified, 'While there may be moral judgments, the legal standing of an illegitimate child is generally equal to that of a child born within a legal marriage.'
Yang further explained that a child born outside of marriage can attain inheritance rights, but this requires a formal acknowledgment process. 'If a paternity test is conducted and a legal claim is made, the child can be registered as a legal heir, thus gaining equal status with the biological children of the legal spouse,' she stated. 'If the acknowledgment claim is made, inheritance rights are granted; if not, they are forfeited.'
Regarding the inheritance rights of Hong's legal wife and their daughter, Yang affirmed, 'There are no issues with inheritance as she holds a legal spouse status.' She added, 'Our laws specify grounds for disqualification from inheritance, such as committing murder against the deceased. In the case of Hong Sang-soo's wife, she has done nothing wrong and simply wishes to maintain her family, so there should be no problems with inheritance.'
