The Supreme Court said on the 30th that it will establish and implement related guidelines in line with the enforcement of the Special Act on Criminal Procedures for Crimes of Insurrection, Treason, and Rebellion.
The Supreme Court's National Court Administration said it established the guidelines that day, requiring court presidents to set up at least two dedicated panels for insurrection and treason cases at their courts. Under the guidelines, when a case related to insurrection or treason is filed, the court president must prioritize personnel and material support so the dedicated panels can review the case quickly and thoroughly.
On case assignment, the guidelines stipulate that, except when assigning other similar cases during the review period by a dedicated panel, new cases must not be assigned to the dedicated panel. They also say that once a case is assigned, it may not be reassigned even if work allocation changes afterward.
Provisions were also included to prepare for cases being filed before the dedicated panels are formed. It said a new rule was created allowing the criminal division that includes the senior presiding judge at the relevant court to handle tasks such as the merits review until the case is assigned to the dedicated panel if a case is filed before the panel is formed.
Earlier, after the National Assembly passed the law led by the Democratic Party of Korea, the Seoul High Court decided through a full judges' meeting to operate two dedicated panels. The Seoul High Court said it would appoint and form judges for the dedicated panels reflecting the outcome of the regular judicial personnel announcement, and it would propose to the Supreme Court the establishment of guidelines for the law's enforcement.