Actor Kang Ye-won, 46, has listed her home for sale after inheriting roughly 1 billion won ($755,000) in debt left by her late father.
On Thursday, Kang appeared on her YouTube channel "Gwangyewon" for a trip to Daegu with her close friend and fellow actor Han Chae-a.
During their conversation, it emerged that Kang had put her home on the market. "These days, houses just aren't selling," she said.
Kang said she had been in a rush to raise cash quickly, prompting Han to add, "Because you want to clear the debt."
When Kang said she planned to sell her home and move in with her mother, Han was visibly shaken and struggled to find words.
"I lived in that house during university and then moved out," Kang said. "After 20 years, I'm going back to my mother's place." Han offered her support, saying, "I think that's actually the best thing."
Kang lost her father in April. He had run a business and reportedly left behind between 1 billion and 1.1 billion won in debt.
In June, Kang consulted a lawyer on the SBS variety program My Little Old Boy about the situation. The lawyer explained two legal options available when inherited debts exceed inherited assets — limited acceptance and full renunciation of inheritance. The lawyer also advised that the most practical course would be for her mother to sell the family apartment her father had left behind and repay as much of the debt as possible, while the children formally renounce their inheritance.
Kang chose not to renounce her inheritance, saying she wanted to pay the back wages owed to employees at her father's business, who had reportedly gone unpaid for about nine months. "There is no legal obligation on my part, but I want to do what I can for the money they never received," she said, her voice breaking. "I feel so sorry right now. I keep talking about money, but these employees were only ever worried about my father."
On the program, Kang personally delivered a portion of the overdue wages to the employees and wept as she told them, "I am so sorry and so grateful that you waited."
Many viewers praised Kang for her sense of responsibility.
paq@heraldcorp.com
