The struggle for family succession and inheritance in a rural Korean village

Choi, Soo Ho

article

The struggle for family succession and inheritance in a rural Korean village

Journal of anthropological research • 51 (4) • Published In 1995 • Pages: 329-346

By: Choi, Soo Ho.

Abstract
Choi presents two case studies of family succession in order to show how this process is often a protracted negotiation and not a routine matter prescribed by tradition. According to Choi, inheritance 'is a contest in which the balance of credits and debts among family members is reckoned (329).' Each member of a family has their own idea about their past contributions to the family and what should be their due. Although the rules of inheritance dictate that the eldest son receives the lion share of family property in exchange for carrying out the ancestor rites, circumstances can complicate the outcome. For example in one case study, a family worked hard, and even sold land, to put through school the youngest son, who eventually became a successful white-collar worker in Seoul. In the meantime the older brother died heirless, and his wife continued to carry out the ancestor rites, which gave her rights to the family property and its revenue. When she died her daughter continued the rites and laid claim to the family property, believing that her uncle had already received his share of family property in the form of his education. Nevertheless, the uncle managed to have his son adopted into his older brother's family and thereby become the rightful heir, displacing his niece.

HRAF PubDate

1998

Region

Asia