Party in power initiates dedicated group for judicial system changes
Democratic Party of Korea Launches Special Judicial Reform Committee
The Democratic Party of Korea has established a special committee on judicial reform, with a focus on increasing transparency, accountability, and public trust in the country's judiciary. The committee aims to complete all three initiatives (judicial, prosecutorial, and media reform) by early October.
The judicial reform committee, chaired by Rep. Park Chan-dae and Rep. Back Hye-ryun, plans to implement comprehensive reforms through five major tasks. The core goal is to increase the number of Supreme Court justices, reshaping the judiciary's decision-making structure.
One of the key initiatives is to hold public hearings and national listening events to gather public opinions and expert advice. This approach ensures that the reforms are people-centered and reflect the needs of the community.
Another significant initiative is the amendment of the testimony evaluation law. The committee aims to classify false statements in parliamentary investigations as perjury, enabling retroactive legal actions against those who may have committed perjury, such as former high-profile officials. This move strengthens judicial accountability and upholds the rule of law.
The committee also plans to draft a revision to the Court Organization Act to increase the number of Supreme Court justices from the current 14 to 30. This expansion aims to ensure a more balanced and efficient judicial system.
In addition, the committee has proposed the establishment of a "court evaluation committee" to assess judges' performance. Up to 15 members would be appointed through recommendations, with the aim of increasing oversight of the judiciary.
The special judicial reform committee also addresses the issue of monopolization of the judiciary, a concern raised by Rep. Jung Chung-rae, the party leader. He stated that this situation goes against democratic principles and undermines public trust in the judiciary.
The Democratic Party has identified the judiciary as containing "remnants of rebellion" linked to former President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law declaration. The committee's reforms are positioned within a broader political agenda aimed at toughening legal accountability and transforming core institutions for enhanced democratic governance.
The prosecutorial reform committee, launched on Aug. 6 under Rep. Min Hyung-bae, is exploring ways to enhance the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials and create an agency under the Ministry of Public Administration and Security for serious crime investigations.
The media reform committee, to be launched on Thursday, will be chaired by Rep. Choi Min-hee. The party is also considering expanding the scope of jury trials and increasing public access to court rulings to strengthen defendants' rights.
President Lee Jae Myung made a pledge during his presidential campaign to increase the number of Supreme Court justices, reflecting a commitment to judicial reform. The committee plans to complete all relevant legislation before the Chuseok holiday in 2025, demonstrating a sense of urgency and a historical mission to enact meaningful reform within a specific timeframe.
In summary, the special judicial reform committee aims to overhaul key aspects of South Korea’s judiciary, particularly by increasing Supreme Court justices and strengthening laws against perjury linked to public officials. The committee's initiatives are people-centered, democratic, and aimed at enhancing public trust in the judiciary.
- The Democratic Party's special judicial reform committee, launched in response to concerns about monopolization and remnants of rebellion in the judiciary, is implementing comprehensive reforms to increase transparency and public trust through tasks like amending the testimony evaluation law, drafting a revision to the Court Organization Act, and establishing a court evaluation committee.
- As part of the broader political agenda aimed at toughening legal accountability and transforming core institutions for enhanced democratic governance, the judicial reform committee plans to make crucial amendments to South Korea's policy-and-legislation by classifying false statements in parliamentary investigations as perjury and increasing the number of Supreme Court justices from 14 to 30.
