South Korea passes judicial reforms: post-verdict constitutional appeals, law distortion crime, Court expansion.

South Korea has enacted three judicial reform bills, with two provisions taking effect immediately: a new mechanism allowing appeals to the Constitutional Court after a final ruling if rights were violated or due process was not followed, and a new crime penalizing deliberate misapplication of the law by judges and prosecutors. The package also plans a major expansion of the Supreme Court two years from now.

The new Constitutional Court appeal, known as the “재판소원제,” lets any party file to the Constitutional Court within 30 days of a final ruling if fundamental rights have been harmed, due process was compromised, or a prior Constitutional Court decision is contradicted. On the first day of enforcement, 16 petitions were filed, including cases seeking to overturn a forced-deportation order against a Syrian national and a dispute over state compensation for delays in a criminal case involving repatriated fishermen.

Choi Jung-kyu, a professor at Korea University Law School, noted that the ability to seek Constitutional Court review again could help resolve public conflicts. He said the mechanism offers a new channel for addressing perceived legal failings in high-profile matters and procedural issues that arise after a final judgment.

The reform package also creates a crime of “distortion of law,” punishable by up to 10 years in prison for prosecutors or judges who deliberately misapply or distort the law. The first target named under this provision is Chief Justice Jo Hee-dae, who has been reported to the police and the Anti-Corruption and Public Service Commission (공수처) for an action related to a Supreme Court ruling in the case involving President Lee Jae-myung and the Public Official Election Act.

In parallel, the bill sets out a planned expansion of the Supreme Court from its current size to 26 justices, with the number growing by four every two years. At present, the court has 14 justices, and 22 of the 26 are to be appointed by the president. The reform thus increases presidential influence over the country’s highest court while changing the court’s overall makeup over time.

Court administrators nationwide will discuss the reforms and related steps in the coming days, with a conference scheduled to continue through tomorrow to map out practical next steps and implementation details.

For U.S. readers, the changes signal a significant shift in Korea’s rule-of-law framework and the balance of judicial power. The combination of a new post-judgment constitutional review avenue, criminal penalties for alleged misapplication of the law, and a substantial expansion of the Supreme Court could affect how high-stakes political and regulatory cases are adjudicated. These developments bear on South Korea’s business climate, regulatory risk, and its ability to deliver predictable legal outcomes—factors that matter to multinational firms, investors, and the broader U.S.-Korea economic relationship, including critical technology and supply-chain sectors.