Supreme Court rules clan head status cannot be transferred by agreement

The Supreme Court ruled that the hereditary status of a clan head, or jongson, cannot be transferred through private agreement.

In a decision issued April 16, the high court rejected a provisional injunction filed by a man known as Ding, who claimed the right to serve as an ex-officio director of his clan association based on a succession pact with Bing, the eldest grandson of the former clan head.

Ding argued he acquired the status after agreeing to take over all duties following the death of the former clan head, noting he had acted as clan head and presided over rituals for years. He further pointed to a past general meeting resolution that ratified his position.

The court stated that the position of jongson is defined strictly as the eldest male descendant in the direct line of the eldest son and constitutes a personal status arising solely from specific kinship ties. Unlike the role of ritual officiant, which heirs may designate by consensus, the title is inherently non-transferable.

The justices determined that neither the private succession agreement nor the clan's long-standing failure to object could confer the legal status of jongson upon someone who did not meet the bloodline criteria.