An exterior view of the Supreme Court on Dec. 8, 2025 (Im Se-jun/The Korea Herald)
An exterior view of the Supreme Court on Dec. 8, 2025 (Im Se-jun/The Korea Herald)

The ruling Democratic Party of Korea is seeking to pass judicial reform bills before the expected completion of plenary sessions at the end of the month.

The proposed changes include almost doubling the number of Supreme Court justices, making Supreme Court rulings no longer final and binding, and penalizing officials in the criminal justice system who wrongly interpret the law when charging or convicting someone.

Rep. Han Byung-do, floor leader of the Democratic Party, said Thursday in a party policy meeting that his party will spare no time in pushing for the long-awaited changes, which the party claims will restore public trust in the judicial system.

The liberal party has a majority in the National Assembly large enough to pass most of the bills.

Han added that the party would "mobilize all available options" to deter the main opposition People Power Party from filibustering the reform bills. Democratic Party Rep. Kim Jun-hyuk proposed a bill on Feb. 13 that would toughen the requirements for launching and sustaining a filibuster.

These plans drew criticism from the rival conservative party, which has claimed that the reform bills are designed merely to eliminate President Lee Jae Myung's legal troubles.

Five criminal trials against Lee were paused following his inauguration in June. Supreme Court Chief Justice Jo Hee-de has often been targeted by the Democratic Party after the top court found Lee guilty of election law violations in May, a month ahead of the presidential election, and remanded the case to a lower court.

The Democratic Party accused the court of attempting a "judicial coup d'etat."

Rep. Song Eon-seog, floor leader of the People Power Party, said in his party's supreme council meeting that the ruling bloc is obsessed with "passing evil laws that destroy the fair judicial system."

Last week, People Power Party chair Rep. Jang Dong-hyeok cited the Democratic Party's push for judicial reform as the reason why he pulled out of a lunch meeting with the president and the ruling party chair on Feb. 12, just 30 minutes before it was due to take place.


consnow@heraldcorp.com