[Anchor]
Recently, a clan (jongjung) decided to differentially pay out billions of won in land compensation fees based on gender. They decided to give men up to twice as much. The matter ultimately escalated into a legal battle, and the court ruled that the clan's decision was invalid.
This is an exclusive report by Reporter Jo Yoon-ha.
[Reporter]
This is land in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, previously owned by Clan A.
In June of last year, about 74,000 square meters of the land was incorporated into a military facility site, resulting in 7.8 billion won in compensation.
After deducting taxes and expenses, the amount to be distributed to some 200 clan members was 3.9 billion won.
The clan's board of directors decided to give 30 million won to the first generation of males (grandfather's generation), 20 million won to the second generation of males, and 15 million won to the third generation of males, while paying 15 million won to females regardless of generation.
[Clan A General Meeting (March) : The first generation of males are the heads of households taking care of their families, the roots of the family, and those who lead the clan. They are the roots that lead that household.]
Because clans are classified as private organizations, standards for property distribution are not stipulated in civil law and other regulations.
The distribution criterion put forward by the clan was "contribution to the clan."
[Clan A Chairman : Isn't it also problematic to give people who consistently participated in grave-tending or ancestral rites the same amount as those who didn't? Married-out women go to live diligently in those households. (Times have changed a lot.) Times have changed, so that's why we're giving them this much.]
Female clan members protested.
[Person B / Female Clan Member : No matter what, it feels like they're treating us the same as a young grandchild, and it hurts our pride.]
They stated they had never even been contacted to come to grave-tending or ancestral rites.
[Person C / Female Clan Member : We protested that this was discrimination. They said that if this kind of conflict arises, they wouldn't make the distribution itself.]
Female clan members filed for a provisional injunction for suspension of effect with the court, and the court ruled that the clan resolution was invalid due to substantive flaws.
The court ruled that "the distribution plan is merely discrimination based on gender and cannot be viewed as having a rational basis."
[Shin Chae-eun / Lawyer : The status of female clan members and male clan members is becoming increasingly equal, and female clan members must not be discriminated against without rational reason simply because they are women.]
In response to the court's decision, the clan side stated, "We plan to withdraw the differential distribution plan based on gender," adding, "We are considering a plan to uniformly pay 15 million won."
(Video Reporter : Lee Byung-joo, Lim Woo-shik, Joo Yong-jin | Video Editing : Jeon Min-gyu)
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