South Korea's judicial reform laws were proclaimed on March 12, allowing constitutional appeals against Supreme Court rulings and punishment for legal distortion. This marks the first major overhaul since the 1987 constitutional amendment, including an expansion of Supreme Court justices. The measures passed under the ruling Democratic Party despite opposition from the opposition and judiciary.
On March 12, South Korea proclaimed a set of judicial reform laws, introducing constitutional appeals against Supreme Court rulings. Litigants can now file complaints to the Constitutional Court within 30 days if a final ruling violates the Constitution, such as conflicting with prior Constitutional Court decisions or infringing fundamental rights. If upheld, the case returns for review. On the first day, a Syrian national petitioned to overturn a deportation-related Supreme Court decision, with 11 complaints filed by 2 p.m. Other cases include a claim by the family of a North Korean-abducted fisherman seeking compensation for a delayed ruling.
The laws also criminalize 'legal distortion,' punishing judges, prosecutors, or investigators with up to 10 years in prison for intentionally twisting legal principles to harm others. The ruling Democratic Party argues this prevents abuse of power, but the judiciary warns it could undermine independence by encouraging conservative rulings out of fear. Examples include misapplying statutes or concealing evidence.
The Supreme Court will expand from 14 to 26 justices, adding four annually starting March 2028 over three years. Proponents say this addresses the backlog, with each justice currently handling 3,478 cases yearly, allowing faster and thorough reviews. Critics, however, fear it enables President Lee Jae Myung to appoint 22 of 26 justices by his term's end in June 2030, potentially packing the court with liberals and straining lower courts by drawing talent.
On the same day, lawyer Lee Byung-chul filed a complaint against Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae and Justice Park Young-jae, alleging distortion in the 2025 ruling on President Lee's election law violation case, which overturned a lower court acquittal. Police confirmed an investigation. A two-day meeting of court heads nationwide began Thursday to discuss the reforms, with Cho warning they could cause 'great harm' to the public.
