Supreme Court Recommends Three-Week Court Closures Nationwide... Excluding Urgent Detention and Injunction Cases

Meeting scene of the 'COVID-19 Response Committee' established at the Court Administration Office. / Provided by the Supreme Court.

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin] The Supreme Court has recommended a three-week recess for general cases, excluding urgent cases, at courts nationwide as a measure against the explosive increase in confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

This decision by the Supreme Court appears to have been influenced by the recent outbreak of a cluster infection involving around 200 staff and inmates at the Seoul Eastern Detention Center last weekend.

On the 21st, the Supreme Court’s Court Administration Office (Director Kim In-gyeom) announced, “The ‘COVID-19 Response Committee’ established within the Court Administration Office has decided to actively recommend that from the 22nd until January 11 of next year, courts nationwide flexibly operate in a manner equivalent to a recess by postponing or rescheduling trial and execution dates for all cases except urgent ones (such as detention-related, provisional injunctions, suspension of execution, etc.).”

It added, “Even in urgent cases, all court attendees must strictly comply with quarantine guidelines such as wearing masks, and we urge the active use of telecommuting at least twice a week.”

Additionally, the COVID-19 Response Committee recommended refraining from interregional travel during the recess period, maintaining continuous indoor mask-wearing, banning gatherings such as dinners, and continuing other measures in accordance with the December 7th ‘Social Distancing Level 2.5 Upgrade in the Capital Area’ guidelines.