In July, a forum titled "Discussion for the Establishment of Incheon High Court" was held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building, hosted by Assemblymen Kim Gyoheung and Shin Donggeun and organized by the Incheon Bar Association. July 6, 2020. [Photo by Assemblyman Kim Gyoheung's blog]
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] Incheon City is forming a public-private joint task force (TF) with civic groups and the legal community to actively launch a city-wide campaign to attract a High Court.
On the 27th, the city announced that following the launch of the 'Incheon High Court Attraction TF' in July, led by the Deputy Mayor for Administration and composed of internal departments such as the Legal Affairs Officer and Citizen Policy Officer, it has expanded the TF into a public-private joint body together with the Citizen Policy Network, which consists of 29 local civic groups and the City Council.
The city plans to engage in activities to attract the High Court, including citizen signature campaigns, forums for the Incheon High Court attraction, and meetings with members of the National Assembly, in cooperation with civic groups.
Earlier in June this year, a partial amendment to the "Act on the Establishment and Jurisdiction of Courts of Various Levels" was proposed, led by local lawmakers Kim Gyoheung and Shin Donggeun, to establish a High Court in Incheon.
The city has commissioned and is currently conducting a "Basic Research Study for the Attraction of the Incheon High Court."
Choi Janghyuk, Deputy Mayor for Administration of Incheon City, stated, "The attraction of the Incheon High Court requires active interest and participation from citizens," adding, "We will actively support so that citizens can receive prompt and high-quality judicial services close to home."
In March last year, the Seoul High Court's Incheon Branch Court was established, operating two civil appellate panels and one family appellate panel.
However, there is no criminal panel, so criminal appellate cases from Incheon are still handled by the Seoul High Court. Because of this, many parties involved in cases, lawyers, and witnesses have to travel a three-hour round trip from Incheon to the Seoul High Court, causing significant inconvenience. For island regions, it takes more than a day.
The judicial jurisdiction population of Incheon, including Gimpo and Bucheon cities in Gyeonggi Province, is 4.2 million, with approximately 2,100 appellate cases annually.
The Incheon Bar Association and civic groups such as Incheon Citizens' Coalition for Economic Justice and Incheon Peace and Welfare Solidarity have urged the prompt establishment of the Incheon High Court, stating that "Incheon covers the largest area among metropolitan cities nationwide and ranks second in regional gross domestic product (GRDP) after Seoul, but judicial services are significantly lacking."
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