Democratic Party of Korea Reps. Back Hye-ryun (left) and Jung Chung-rae converse during a press conference marking the inauguration of a special committee on judicial reform at the National Assembly in Seoul on Tuesday. (Yonhap)
Democratic Party of Korea Reps. Back Hye-ryun (left) and Jung Chung-rae converse during a press conference marking the inauguration of a special committee on judicial reform at the National Assembly in Seoul on Tuesday. (Yonhap)

The ruling Democratic Party of Korea on Tuesday launched a special committee on judicial reform, aiming to strengthen oversight of the judiciary.

The Democratic Party has singled out the judiciary as containing “remnants of rebellion” linked to former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s controversial martial law declaration on Dec. 3 last year.

"When a small group monopolizes and controls things behind closed doors, it goes against the principles of democracy (and the judiciary is no exception)," party leader Rep. Jung Chung-rae said at the inauguration ceremony at the National Assembly in Seoul on Tuesday afternoon.

"I ask the committee members to break through blockages and clear stagnant areas so the judiciary can earn the trust of the public."

The panel will be chaired by Rep. Back Hye-ryun, a former prosecutor-turned-lawyer, with first-term Rep. Lee Geon-tae, who also has a legal background, serving as the senior member.

The committee plans to draft a revision to the Court Organization Act to more than double the number of Supreme Court justices from the current 14 to 30 — a pledge President Lee Jae Myung made during his presidential campaign.

"The Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to a prompt trial, and criminal defendants the right to be tried without undue delay, but in reality this constitutional order is not being upheld,” Jung said during the ceremony.

Another item likely to be discussed is a proposal introduced by Jung during the party's June convention to establish a "court evaluation committee" of up to 15 members, appointed through recommendations from the Assembly, related organizations and within the judiciary, to assess judges’ performance.

Jung's proposal aims to address concerns that the authority to evaluate judges is concentrated in the hands of the chief justice, while standards and results are not disclosed.

Other measures on the table include expanding the scope of jury trials and increasing public access to court rulings to strengthen defendants’ rights.

The party has been taking aim at judges particularly in the wake of the martial law declaration. During its leadership race in June, candidate Rep. Park Chan-dae said that the judges who revoked the arrest warrant for Yoon should be removed from trials, a position with broad support within the party.

The party has also formed task forces for prosecutorial and media reform, which the party has identified as its key initiatives under the Lee administration. Jung has set early October as the target for completing all three initiatives.

The prosecutorial reform committee, launched first on Aug. 6 under Rep. Min Hyung-bae, is exploring ways to enhance the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, established when the former Moon Jae-in administration reformed the prosecution. It will also discuss ways to limit the Prosecutor's Office to indictment and warrant duties, and create an agency under the Ministry of Public Administration and Security for serious crime investigations.

The media reform committee, chaired by Rep. Choi Min-hee, is scheduled to be launched on Thursday.


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