Chief Justice Jo Hee-de on the 22nd addressed the Democratic Party of Korea's notice that it would place the bill to establish a court division dedicated to insurrection cases on the agenda of a plenary session, saying, "I will review it together and then explain." It is interpreted to mean the judiciary will organize its position after watching the flow of debate in the National Assembly.
Chief Justice Jo answered this way when asked by reporters on the way to work at the Supreme Court building that morning. Asked whether the Supreme Court plans to revise the recently prepared regulations on a dedicated division for insurrection and foreign aggression cases if the Democratic Party of Korea's proposal passes the National Assembly, Jo did not answer and entered the building.
The Democratic Party of Korea has said it would place on the plenary agenda that day a bill to establish a dedicated division for insurrection cases, including the case involving former President Yoon Suk-yeol's alleged insurrection. The People Power Party has signaled a filibuster, but if the Democratic Party of Korea submits a motion to end debate, a cloture vote becomes possible 24 hours after the start of unlimited debate, raising the possibility of passage at the plenary session on the 23rd.
Citing constitutional concerns, the Supreme Court on the 18th announced a plan to establish regulations for a dedicated division for insurrection and foreign aggression cases with random assignment of judges as the principle. However, the Democratic Party of Korea is maintaining its plan to push the bill through.
It is reported that the revised bill to be brought to the plenary session will include a plan to constitute judges for the dedicated division through a statutory body within the Supreme Court instead of a judge recommendation committee. If the bill is handled at the plenary session, the law would take precedence, making it difficult to enforce the Supreme Court regulations as is, and follow-up procedures such as revisions in line with the purpose of the law may follow.
The Seoul High Court will hold a closed full judges' meeting that evening to discuss follow-up measures in accordance with the Supreme Court regulations. In the work allocation aligned with next year's regular personnel moves, a proposal to increase the number of criminal divisions by two or more is expected to be presented, and if adopted, a total of 16 criminal panels would be formed, with two to three criminal appellate panels designated as dedicated insurrection divisions through random assignment procedures.