South Korea Court Chiefs Outline Steps After Judicial Reforms
A national meeting of court presidents was held on December 12 at Forest Resort Resom in Jecheon, Chungcheongbuk-do, to discuss follow-up actions after the three judicial reform measures were enacted: the creation of a crime for distorting the law, the introduction of a retrial petition system, and the expansion of the number of Supreme Court justices.
The session, organized by the Supreme Court’s Court Administration Office, brought together 44 court chiefs and other senior officials to map out concrete steps in response to the reforms and their implications for the judiciary.
Participants warned that the new crime of distorting the law could intensify prosecutors’ and judges’ avoidance of criminal cases, potentially affecting how criminal proceedings are conducted. They proposed several protections for criminal judges, including greater budgets for litigation support, the creation and operation of an independent commission to safeguard trial independence, stronger protection of private information, prioritizing the placement of judicial researchers, introducing criminal-law specialists, and higher stipends related to criminal trials.
On the retrial petition system, leaders noted possible confusion in practical terms and in procedural administration. They discussed how records should be transmitted at the retrial stage, how the judiciary should submit its views, and how to handle enforcement actions related to overturned and final judgments once a retrial determination is made. They agreed that legislative tweaks and interagency coordination would be needed to minimize any public side effects.
Regarding the expansion of the Supreme Court, the meeting explored measures to prevent deterioration in trial quality that could accompany a larger bench. Suggestions included increasing the number of trial judges, introducing a senior-judge system, and expanding the pool of judicial researchers, all aimed at preserving trial integrity.
The participants called on the Court Administration Office to consolidate the discussion into concrete procedural steps and to actively coordinate with external agencies to mitigate unintended consequences for the public. The meeting concluded with a pledge to pursue rapid, detailed follow-up actions.
Forty-four attendees included court heads from various levels. Ki Woo-jong, acting head of the Court Administration Office (formerly of the Judicial Research and Training Institute, 26th class), urged the judiciary to help restore trust and to propose practical alternatives as the reforms proceed. The group also announced a plan to discuss, on December 13, the need and phased approach for developing artificial intelligence to improve public access to judicial services.
Why this matters beyond Korea: the reforms touch on judicial independence, accountability, and predictability—issues with broad implications for foreign investors, multinational firms, and global supply chains operating in Korea. Changes to how trials are conducted, the handling of retrials, and the independence of judges can affect contract enforcement, dispute resolution timelines, and the risk profile for businesses engaging in Korea. The push toward using AI to improve judicial accessibility also signals how Korea is integrating technology into law, with potential lessons for U.S. firms and policymakers evaluating similar tech-enabled justice initiatives.