Remarks at Korean Court Day Ceremony
"Will Communicate with the National Assembly to Find the Right Path for All Citizens"
Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae addressed the judicial reform initiatives being pursued by the Democratic Party of Korea, stating, "We will fully present our opinions to the National Assembly and seek the right path for the people," and emphasized, "For the judiciary to fulfill its mission, the independence of trials must be firmly guaranteed."
On the morning of September 12, at the central hall on the second floor of the Supreme Court building, Chief Justice Cho made these remarks during the commemorative ceremony for the 11th 'Korean Court Day.' This marks the first time that the Chief Justice has officially expressed his stance on judicial reform legislation in a public setting amid ongoing legislative efforts.
He said, "During the recent discussions in the National Assembly regarding improvements to the judicial system, the judiciary has been making every effort to communicate from multiple angles not only with the National Assembly, but also with the government, the bar association, the law professors' association, and the media. After thorough review through public discourse, we are striving to devise desirable measures that will alleviate public inconvenience and realize judicial justice."
He continued, "The judiciary will continue to prioritize the constitutional values of separation of powers and judicial independence. Building on the precedent of the judiciary's active participation in major past judicial reforms, we will fully present our opinions to the National Assembly. Where necessary, we will persuade through reasonable explanations and communication to find the right path for all citizens." This is interpreted as an expression of intent to ensure that the judiciary's views are reflected in the current discussions, amid concerns that the judiciary's position has not been adequately considered in the judicial reform process.
Chief Justice Cho also emphasized the value of judicial independence. He stated, "For the judiciary to fully carry out its dedicated mission, above all, the independence of trials must be firmly guaranteed," and urged, "Judges, regardless of any difficulties, should remain unwavering, trust in the Constitution, and approach trials with confidence and composure."
He added, "I take seriously the public's concerns regarding our judiciary," and pledged, "We will continuously reflect on and improve upon what the public expects from the judiciary, and do our utmost to meet the public's trust."
Regarding the proposal to increase the number of Supreme Court justices, he also stressed the need for a concentrated assignment of judges to the first instance courts. Chief Justice Cho stated, "As more judges are appointed, we will do our utmost to establish and operate dedicated panels in the first instance courts to resolve disputes that are directly related to people's lives or require especially prompt handling, so that the public can enjoy the protection of the law from the earliest stages of a dispute."
Meanwhile, at 2 p.m. on the same day, the Supreme Court will convene an extraordinary meeting of the National Court Presidents to discuss the five key agendas for judicial reform. The topics for discussion, being promoted by the Democratic Party's Special Committee on Judicial Reform with the aim of passing them at a plenary session before Chuseok, include: increasing the number of Supreme Court justices, improving the method for recommending justices, enhancing the judicial evaluation system, expanding the scope of public access to lower court rulings, and introducing a pre-examination system for search and seizure warrants.
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