'Inheritance Dispute' Kim Hong-gul: "Nobel Prize Money and Donggyodong Residence Used According to Mother's Will"

The late President Kim Dae-jung's second son, former lawmaker Kim Hong-eop, and third son, Kim Hong-gul, the representative standing chairman of the Korean Council for Reconciliation and Cooperation, are observing a moment of silence at the memorial service for the 10th anniversary of President Kim Dae-jung's passing, held on the morning of the 18th at the National Seoul National Cemetery in Dongjak-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyu81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Nahum] Kim Hong-geol, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea who is currently in a dispute over inheritance with his half-brother Kim Hong-eop, chairman of the Kim Dae-jung Peace Center, stated on the 23rd that "the Nobel Peace Prize money will be used only for the Kim Dae-jung and Lee Hee-ho memorial projects." He also expressed the intention to preserve the Donggyo-dong residence permanently and utilize it as the "Kim Dae-jung and Lee Hee-ho Memorial Hall."

On the same day, lawyers Cho Soon-yeol and Kim Jeong-gi from the law firm Munmu, legal representatives of Kim Hong-geol, held a press conference at the National Assembly Members' Office Building to convey Kim's position.

Kim is currently in a dispute with Chairman Kim over the inheritance of the 800 million KRW Nobel Peace Prize money awarded to the late former President Kim Dae-jung and Lee Hee-ho, as well as the Donggyo-dong residence in Seoul valued at approximately 3.2 billion KRW. Among the three sons of former President Kim Dae-jung, the late Kim Hong-il and Chairman Kim Hong-eop are children of the first wife, Cha Yong-ae, while Kim Hong-geol is the child of Lee Hee-ho.

Lawyer Cho explained, "Chairman Kim Hong-eop and the late Kim Hong-il are not heirs of Lee Hee-ho," adding, "The only legal heir according to civil law is Kim Hong-geol, who is her biological child."

Kim's legal team also disclosed the contents of Lee Hee-ho's will made during her lifetime. The will stated that the Nobel Peace Prize money should be used for the Kim Dae-jung memorial projects, and the Donggyo-dong residence should be used as the Kim Dae-jung Memorial Hall. However, ownership of the Donggyo-dong residence would be inherited by Kim Hong-geol, and if sold, one-third of the proceeds should be used for the Kim Dae-jung Memorial Foundation, with the remaining two-thirds divided equally among the three brothers: Kim Hong-il, Kim Hong-eop, and Kim Hong-geol.

Cho said, "Although the will was written three years before her passing, it became legally invalid because subsequent procedures were not followed. However, regardless of legal validity, Kim Hong-geol believes it reflects her wishes and intends to honor them."

Lawyer Kim criticized the fact that Kim Hong-geol took the Nobel Peace Prize money, stating, "Out of the 1.1 billion KRW Nobel Prize money, 300 million KRW was donated to Yonsei University's Kim Dae-jung Library, and the remaining 800 million KRW has been used annually in December to help the underprivileged and support overseas democratization movements. It is unfair to try to take even this money."

Regarding the use of the remaining prize money, Kim said, "I understand that one installment of inheritance tax was paid from the prize money." He explained, "Inheritance tax can go up to 50%, so Kim Hong-geol would not have enough money to pay all the tax at once. I understand that an agreement was made with the National Tax Service to pay in five installments, and one installment has already been paid."

He added, "Paying the tax does not mean the money is gone," and said, "If the local government purchases the residence to use it as a memorial hall, it can be restored to its original state later."

Kim's side also responded to a statement submitted to the court by Kwon No-gap, chairman of the Kim Dae-jung Memorial Foundation, regarding the inheritance dispute. In the statement, Kwon claimed that he had met twice with Kim Hong-geol and promised to handle matters according to Lee Hee-ho's will.

Regarding this, lawyer Cho said, "Chairman Kwon sent a certified letter on April 1, before the last general election, demanding the transfer of inherited property by April 6. He threatened to hold a press conference and initiate a lawsuit to inform the public if this was not done," adding, "This was a clear threat to harm Kim Hong-geol's election campaign, as he was running as a proportional representative."

Kim's side also revealed plans to use the Donggyo-dong residence as the Kim Dae-jung and Lee Hee-ho Memorial Hall. It is known that the steering committee for establishing the memorial hall includes Father Ham Se-woong and Yoo Si-chun, chairman of EBS.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.