South KoreaWhat is the legally reserved share (yuryubun)?
The legally reserved share (yuryubun) is the minimum portion of an estate that certain close relatives—such as children, spouses, and parents—are guaranteed by law, even if a will attempts to disinherit them.
What the Law Says
South Korean law guarantees certain heirs a legally reserved share (yuryubun) of the deceased’s estate, regardless of the contents of a will. This protects vulnerable family members from total disinheritance.
The reserved share applies to direct descendants (children), the surviving spouse, and direct ascendants (parents). Siblings and more distant relatives are not entitled to yuryubun.
The size of the reserved share depends on who survives the deceased. If only children survive, each child is entitled to half of their statutory inheritance share. If the spouse is also a beneficiary, the spouse receives one-third of the estate, and children collectively receive half — with adjustments based on number and relationship.
A claim for reduction of excessive bequests (to restore the reserved share) must be made within five years from the start of inheritance or from when the heir becomes aware of the infringement, whichever is later.
Statutory TextA person who has a right to inherit may claim reduction of a legacy or bequest to the extent necessary to secure his reserved share.
— Civil Act, s. 1112 — Reduction of Legacy Infringing Reserved Share
Statutory TextThe reserved share of a child or a parent is one-half of the portion he would have inherited had there been no will; that of a spouse is one-third of the portion he would have inherited had there been no will.
— Civil Act, s. 1113 — Amount of Reserved Share
Statutory TextThe right to claim reduction of a legacy or bequest shall be extinguished by prescription after five years from the commencement of inheritance or from the time when the heir becomes aware of the infringement of his reserved share, whichever is later.
— Civil Act, s. 1114 — Prescription Period
What to Do
Confirm your status as a statutory heir (child, spouse, or parent of the deceased)
Calculate your statutory inheritance share and then apply the reserved share ratio (1/2 for children/parents, 1/3 for spouse)
Compare it with what you actually received (or were excluded from) under the will
File a written claim for reduction of legacy with the court within 5 years of inheritance commencement or awareness of infringement
Sources
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JapanNot legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: 2026-06-08.