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Mother of late K-pop star Goo Hara defends her actions
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The portrait of late K-pop star Goo Hara is seen surrounded by flowers at a memorial altar at a hospital in Seoul on November 25, 2019. (AFP/Dong-A Ilbo)
Following a lawsuit against her by her son, the mother of late K-pop star Goo Hara has come out to give her side of the story.
The mother appeared on July 23 on broadcaster JTBC's Spotlight program, which looked at the dispute over who gets to inherit the late singer's assets.
Goo Hara, 28, was found dead at home in November last year, leaving behind a note filled reportedly with pessimistic thoughts.
On the program, her mother, whose face was not shown, explained why she had walked out on her children when they were young, South Korean pop culture website, Soompi, reported.
She said: "What kind of parent doesn't want to raise their child?
"However, I had my own circumstance. In my situation without a job, leaving with only one bag, even though I wanted to raise them, I found myself in a situation where I couldn't, so I didn't."
Goo Hara and her brother Ho-in were abandoned by their divorced parents when they were nine and 11 respectively and were cared for by relatives.
After the death of Goo Hara, her parents each received half of her assets in accordance to South Korea's Civil Act. Her father gave his half to Ho-in, while her mother still maintains her right over her half despite failing to fulfill her parental duties.
Regarding her decision to appoint lawyers to help her get a share of her daughter's estate, Goo's mother said: "I told the lawyers to take care of it on their own. My daughter had died, what kind of inheritance or money could have been important?
"I don't even know now how it worked out. I don't know anything. I don't even know what the amount of money is. Don't keep asking questions. This is hard."
Her son has since filed a lawsuit against her, saying she has no right to the inheritance. He has also petitioned for a Goo Hara Act to change the country's inheritance law to prevent a parent's claim on their children's assets if he or she had neglected parental duties.
This article appeared on The Straits Times newspaper website, which is a member of Asia News Network and a media partner of The Jakarta Post
