National Planning Committee Discusses Expansion of Punitive Damages and Class Action Systems with Korean Bar Association

Visiting an Elementary School to Discuss "Protection of Teachers' Rights"
Second Report on Government Reorganization Plan to Be Presented to the President Soon

Jo Seungrae, spokesperson for the National Planning Committee, is giving a briefing on current issues at the Changseongdong Annex of the Seoul Government Complex in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 23rd. 2025.6.23 Photo by Jo Yongjun

The National Planning Committee, which is responsible for outlining the next five-year state administration plan for the Lee Jaemyung government, announced on the 22nd that it had met with the Korean Bar Association to discuss ways to expand the punitive damages and class action systems.

Jo Seungrae, spokesperson for the National Planning Committee, said at a briefing that day, "The Political and Administrative Subcommittee held a meeting with the Bar Association yesterday to discuss improvements to the judicial system," adding, "At this meeting, we discussed the introduction of attorney-client privilege and discovery procedures, as well as the expansion of the punitive damages system and the class action system."

The punitive damages system is a mechanism that increases the deterrent effect by requiring offenders to pay compensation several times the actual amount of damages. Currently, it is only exceptionally applied in certain laws, such as the Product Liability Act and the Subcontracting Act.

The class action system allows, in cases where there are multiple victims, some victims to file a lawsuit as representatives, and if they win, other victims are also entitled to the same judgment. At present, class actions are only permitted in the securities sector in Korea.

In addition, during a separate meeting with the Crime Prevention Policy Bureau of the Ministry of Justice, the Political and Administrative Subcommittee discussed increasing the number of electronic monitoring and dedicated juvenile probation officers at probation offices.

Meanwhile, the Social Affairs Subcommittee 2 of the National Planning Committee is scheduled to visit an elementary school in Seodaemun-gu today to discuss measures to protect teachers' rights together with Jeong Geunsik, Superintendent of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education.

Spokesperson Jo explained, "This field visit was initiated based on a suggestion from a teacher who called for the eradication of malicious complaints and the guarantee of teachers' basic political rights."

Jo also commented on the ongoing organizational restructuring, which includes the separation of prosecution and investigative powers among the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Financial Supervisory Service, and the prosecution, stating, "Adjustments are still underway," and added, "The final decision can only be made public after consultation with the Presidential Office and once the President has made a judgment and decision."

Regarding the appeal submitted the previous day by about 1,500 employees of the Financial Supervisory Service to the National Planning Committee, opposing the separation of the Financial Consumer Protection Bureau, Jo stated, "This has been delivered to the relevant review units, including the government organization task force, and will be discussed."

The National Planning Committee made its first report on the organizational restructuring plan to President Lee on the 3rd of this month. The committee is currently finalizing the plan ahead of the second report.