Will Judges' Meeting Be Convened Over Lee's Election Law Remand? Chairperson Also Considering Authority to Convene

Unofficial Vote Held in National Judges' Group Chat
Extraordinary Meeting to Be Convened If More Than One-Fifth of Representatives Request

Amid ongoing controversy over the Supreme Court's remand decision regarding Lee Jaemyung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, representatives of judges nationwide are gathering opinions on whether to convene an extraordinary meeting.

Yonhap News

According to the legal community on May 8, an unofficial vote is underway in the group chat of the National Judges' Representatives Meeting, following a proposal by one of the representatives, to determine whether to convene an extraordinary session. The meeting of judges' representatives is regularly held every April and December. However, an extraordinary meeting can be convened if requested by the chairperson, staff, or by more than one-fifth of the representatives.

If more than one-fifth of the representatives vote in favor of convening an extraordinary meeting in today's vote, it is expected that an extraordinary session will be held as early as next week. It has also been reported that Kim Yeyoung (30th class of the Judicial Research and Training Institute), the presiding judge of Seoul Southern District Court and chairperson of the meeting, is discussing the possibility of convening an extraordinary session by her authority with the operating committee.

The National Judges' Representatives Meeting is a body in which representative judges elected from courts at all levels gather to express opinions or make recommendations regarding judicial administration and judicial independence. If necessary, they may also request explanations and submission of materials from those in charge of judicial administration.

Although the agenda has not been specifically set, it is highly likely that the controversy surrounding the Supreme Court's decision on candidate Lee on May 1 will be discussed. It has been reported that various discussions on this issue are also taking place within the meeting itself.

The agenda for the meeting is determined by proposals from the chairperson and the representatives. If ten or more members, including the proposer, agree, additional items can be added to the agenda on the spot during the meeting.