In February 2005, the Constitutional Court ruled that the family master system was incompatible with the constitutional principle of gender equality.
This elimination was followed by the legislation of "family relations registration law" (kajokkwangyedeungnogbeop) in April 2007, which will be effective starting on January 1, 2008. In contrast to the family master system, the new personal status system win treat individuals as independent and equal entities.