People Power Party Protests Judicial Reform Bills in Plenary Session Members of the People Power Party are protesting the three judicial reform bills (law distortion crime, judicial review system, increased Supreme Court justices) during the 8th extraordinary plenary session of the National Assembly on February 28th, after the vote on the motion to terminate unlimited debate on the amendment to the Court Organization Act (Supreme Court Justice Expansion Act), which was proposed the previous day. [Yonhap News]Despite criticism from the opposition bloc, which called it a "completion of Lee Jae-myung's dictatorship," the "three judicial reform bills" have been promulgated and immediately enforced today, casting a dark cloud over South Korea's judicial system.

The laws, including the establishment of a law distortion crime and the introduction of a judicial review system, took effect immediately upon their publication in the official gazette at midnight today. This comes just a week after the State Council approved the bills as originally proposed on the 5th, ignoring the People Power Party's request for the President to exercise his right of veto.

The expansion of Supreme Court justices is scheduled to be implemented in stages starting two years after promulgation.

The most significant change resulting from this reform is the judicial review system. With the deletion of the phrase "excluding judicial rulings" from Article 68(1) of the Constitutional Court Act, individuals can now file a petition with the Constitutional Court alleging infringement of fundamental rights, even concerning finalized court judgments.

A judicial review petition must be filed within 30 days of the date the court ruling becomes final. If the Constitutional Court annuls the ruling, the court must comply.

The Constitutional Court will establish a dedicated "preliminary review division" comprising eight research officers with more than 15 years of experience.

Furthermore, the amended Criminal Code introduces a "law distortion crime" provision that punishes judges and prosecutors who intentionally distort the law during trials or investigations.

Judges and prosecutors who intentionally misapply the law with the aim of providing unlawful or unfair benefits to others or infringing upon their rights and interests will be subject to imprisonment for up to 10 years or disqualification for up to 10 years.

The expansion of Supreme Court justices will take effect two years after the promulgation of the amendment to the Court Organization Act. Accordingly, the number of Supreme Court justices, currently 14, will increase by four each year for three years starting in 2028, eventually reaching a total of 26 justices.

Earlier, the People Power Party had expressed its opposition to the enforcement of the three judicial reform bills, stating, "The Democratic Party is collapsing South Korea's 80-year-old judicial system and disrupting constitutional order."

Supreme Court [Yonhap News]

Korea-US-Japan Times Social Affairs Department