# Public Officials Disaster Compensation Act

> legislative act limiting the inheritance of survivors' pensions for families of public officials who did not participate in raising their children

**Wikidata**: [Q103814975](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q103814975)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/public-officials-disaster-compensation-act

## Summary
The **Public Officials Disaster Compensation Act**, widely known as the **Goo Hara Act**, is a South Korean statute that limits the inheritance rights of survivors' pensions for families of public officials who did not participate in raising their children. Enacted by the National Assembly, it serves as a specific legislative measure to restrict financial benefits for estranged family members. The law is officially recorded as Law No. 15522.

## Key Facts
- **Official Name:** Public Officials Disaster Compensation Act (법률 제15522호).
- **Common Name:** Goo Hara Act (구하라법, ク・ハラ法, 공무원 구하라법).
- **Jurisdiction:** South Korea.
- **Legislative Body:** National Assembly (South Korea).
- **Inception Date:** March 18, 2020.
- **Effective Date:** September 21, 2018 (with specific parts effective from March 20, 2018).
- **Publication Date:** December 1, 2020.
- **Date of Promulgation:** March 20, 2018.
- **Classification:** Instance of a Statute.
- **Named After:** Goo Hara, a South Korean singer and actress.
- **Function:** Limits inheritance of survivors' pensions for families of public officials who did not participate in raising their children.
- **Language:** Korean.

## FAQs
**What is the purpose of the Public Officials Disaster Compensation Act?**
The act limits the ability of family members to inherit survivors' pensions if they did not participate in raising the deceased public official. Its primary function is to prevent estranged or neglectful relatives from receiving financial benefits intended for the support of the official's dependents.

**Why is it called the Goo Hara Act?**
The legislation is popularly nicknamed the "Goo Hara Act" after the singer Goo Hara. This naming follows a common practice in South Korea where significant legislative changes are named after public figures whose cases highlighted the need for legal reform, particularly regarding inheritance and family rights.

**What are the key dates associated with this act?**
The act was promulgated on March 20, 2018, with some parts becoming effective that same day and the wider act becoming effective on September 21, 2018. It was subsequently formally recognized or a related milestone occurred on March 18, 2020, and it was published on December 1, 2020.

## Why It Matters
The Public Officials Disaster Compensation Act represents a significant shift in South Korean inheritance and pension law by attaching a moral condition—participation in child-rearing—to financial eligibility. It matters because it addresses public sentiment and legal gaps exposed by high-profile cases, specifically preventing parents who abandoned or neglected their children from profiting from their death through state pensions. By naming the act after Goo Hara, it highlights the intersection of celebrity, social justice, and legislative action, serving as a concrete example of how individual tragedies can catalyze systemic legal change to protect the principles of equity and justice for surviving family members.

## Notable For
- **Naming after a Public Figure:** The act is distinctively nicknamed the "Goo Hara Act," linking it directly to the late K-pop star Goo Hara.
- **Moral Conditionality in Law:** It is notable for legally restricting financial inheritance based on the beneficiary's past conduct (specifically, non-participation in raising the child).
- **Addressing Estranged Family Rights:** The law specifically targets and limits the rights of estranged family members, a subject of intense public debate in South Korea.
- **Legislative Efficiency:** The act shows a rapid or specific legislative response, with promulgation in 2018 and formal recognition/inception milestones noted in 2020.
- **Dual Effective Dates:** The legislation had a staggered implementation, with parts of the act effective on different dates (March 20, 2018, and September 21, 2018).

## Body

### Legislative Identity and Naming
The **Public Officials Disaster Compensation Act** is a statute enacted by the National Assembly of South Korea. It is officially identified by the law identifier **법률 제15522호** (Law No. 15522). While its formal title describes its function regarding public official compensation, it is widely recognized by its nickname, the **Goo Hara Act** (구하라법). This name is also rendered in Japanese as ク・ハラ法 and alternatively in Korean as 공무원 구하라법. The act is named in honor of **Goo Hara**, a prominent South Korean singer and actress, following a naming convention where significant legislative changes are associated with figures whose personal circumstances underscored the need for the law.

### Core Function and Scope
Functionally, the act serves as a specific modification to existing rules governing survivors' pensions for public officials. Its defining provision **limits the inheritance of survivors' pensions** for families of public officials. Specifically, it restricts these financial benefits for family members **who did not participate in raising their children**. This creates a legal consequence for parental neglect or abandonment, preventing estranged parents or guardians from claiming financial support intended for the deceased official's true dependents. The law applies strictly within the jurisdiction of **South Korea** and is written in the **Korean language**.

### Timeline of Enactment and Effect
The legislative history of the act involves several key dates marking its passage and implementation:
- **Promulgation:** The act was promulgated on **March 20, 2018**.
- **Effective Dates:** Implementation was staggered. Certain provisions (specified as "part") became effective immediately on **March 20, 2018**, while the broader act became effective on **September 21, 2018**.
- **Inception Milestone:** A specific inception or legislative milestone for the act is recorded as **March 18, 2020**.
- **Publication:** The act was published on **December 1, 2020**.

### Legal Classification
As a legal instrument, the Public Officials Disaster Compensation Act is classified as an **instance of a statute**. It is a formal written document that creates law, caused by the legislative process of the National Assembly. Unlike broader legal concepts, this is a concrete rule with specific application to the pension and inheritance framework for public officials in South Korea. It shares the public domain status common to statutes and official legal documents.

## References

1. [Source](https://sports.chosun.com/news/ntype.htm?id=202003270100218880013825&servicedate=20200326)
2. [Source](https://news.sbs.co.kr/news/endPage.do?news_id=N1006100463)