Will K-pop Star Gu Jun-yeop Inherit Late Wife's Wealth Amid Legal Battles?

The question arises whether Gu Jun-yeop can inherit the estate of his late wife, Taiwanese actress and singer Seohuiwon, who passed away recently. With an estimated inheritance of 1.2 billion KRW (approximately 1.2 billion TWD), he faces the risk of losing not only her wealth but also custody of their children.

Seohuiwon, who was married to Chinese businessman Wang Xiaofei from 2011 until their divorce in 2021, had two children with him. After a 23-year separation, she reunited with Gu Jun-yeop and they married. However, reports suggest that they did not officially register their marriage in Taiwan, which raises concerns that her former husband could claim her estate and custody rights.

According to reports from Taiwan's ETTV, Seohuiwon owned several properties, including land for the National Museum of Fine Arts and a penthouse. Her total estate is estimated to be around 600 million CNY (approximately 1.2 billion KRW). While Gu Jun-yeop may seek half of this inheritance, the short duration of their marriage complicates his claim.

Seohuiwon had ongoing legal disputes with her ex-husband, which could allow Gu Jun-yeop to continue her civil lawsuits. Their tumultuous relationship persisted even after their divorce, with public disagreements over their children's privacy and accusations from her former mother-in-law, Zhang Lan, who made various allegations against Seohuiwon.

In the wake of Seohuiwon's death, Wang Xiaofei has publicly expressed his condolences, changing his social media profile to black and asking for positive remarks about her, stating, "She is also my family."

Legal experts indicate that if Seohuiwon left a will, her estate would be distributed according to her wishes. If not, Gu Jun-yeop and their two children would each receive one-third of her estate. The ongoing legal disputes with Wang Xiaofei and his mother suggest that the battle over Seohuiwon's wealth and custody of the children is far from over.

Seohuiwon tragically passed away on February 2, 2025, due to pneumonia caused by influenza while traveling in Japan with her family. She was 48 years old. Gu Jun-yeop expressed his grief in a phone interview, confirming the news and stating, "It's not fake news; I'm not okay."