A court has dismissed a lawsuit filed by Kim Young-shik, the wife of the late former LG Group Chairman Koo Bon-moo and the adoptive mother of current Chairman Koo Kwang-mo, seeking to annul his adoption.

Judge Lee Eun-joo of Family Division 6 at the Seoul Family Court dismissed the plaintiff's claim in the judicial adoption annulment suit filed by Kim against Chairman Koo.

The specific background for the ruling was not disclosed in the courtroom.

Kim filed the adoption annulment lawsuit in November 2024 amid a legal dispute with Chairman Koo over the inheritance left by the former chairman.

Chairman Koo Kwang-mo is the biological son of Koo Bon-neung, chairman of Heesung Group and younger brother of the late former Chairman Koo Bon-moo.

After losing his only son in an accident, former Chairman Koo Bon-moo adopted his nephew, Koo Kwang-mo, in 2004 to succeed the group.

This was in accordance with LG Group's tradition of succession by the eldest son.

Following the passing of former Chairman Koo Bon-moo in 2018, Chairman Koo inherited most of the late chairman's shares in LG Corp. and became the largest shareholder.

However, in 2023, former Chairman Koo's wife Kim Young-shik and his two daughters, Koo Yeon-kyung, head of the LG Welfare Foundation, and Koo Yeon-soo, filed an inheritance recovery lawsuit demanding a redivision of the inherited assets. In November of the following year, while the first trial was underway, Kim filed the judicial adoption annulment suit against Chairman Koo.

In February, the first-instance court for the inheritance lawsuit ruled in favor of Chairman Koo, finding that the division agreement had been validly drawn up and that there had been no fraudulent acts during the process.

The first preparatory hearing for the appeal will be held at the Seoul High Court on the 4th.

Kim, who attended the court hearing to receive the verdict of the adoption annulment suit, bowed her head and remained seated for a while, appearing deeply disheartened upon hearing the ruling against her.

In a subsequent press conference, she stated, "I apologize for causing concern over family matters," while adding, "I do not believe that Chairman Koo and I can continue our relationship as mother and son."

She continued, "I hope we can now return to our respective families and lives," and added, "I will do my absolute best and find a way until the end until this relationship is cleared up."

This is interpreted as an intention to continue the legal battle through an appeal.

(Photo provided by LG, Yonhap News)