"Family Courts Put Lives on Hold"... Vicious Cycle of Trial Delays

Only 229 Family Investigators Nationwide, Urgent Need for More
Park Kyun-Taek: "Staff Shortage Is the Cause... Work System Needs Improvement"

Kyun-Taek Park, member of the Democratic Party of Korea.

As the processing speed of family court cases such as divorce, child custody, and guardianship-which are matters that determine the lives of individuals and families-continues to slow down each year, court officials have pointed to a shortage of family investigators and excessive workloads as the main causes.

According to data submitted by Kyun-Taek Park, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea representing Gwangju Gwangsan-gap, to the Supreme Court on October 22, there were only 229 family investigators nationwide as of the first half of this year.

Most investigators are handling not only family cases but also juvenile protection and non-contentious cases simultaneously, making heavy workloads and delays in case processing inevitable.

In particular, among the 57 courts nationwide where family investigators are essential, six branches-Jangheung, Namwon, Sokcho, Jecheon, Uiseong, and Yeongdeok-do not have a single dedicated investigator assigned. As a result, investigators from neighboring branches are forced to cover these areas, leading to significant delays. Some cases are postponed for several months, leaving desperate parties to endure the pain of waiting for their trials with no end in sight.

Family investigators play a key role in identifying the facts of sensitive family cases such as divorce, parental rights, child custody, and guardianship, and they provide the foundational materials for trials. However, the shortage of personnel not only prolongs investigation periods but also leads to insufficient interviews with parties and inadequate fact-checking, ultimately threatening the integrity of the trials themselves.

The Court Administration Office has requested an increase of 45 family investigators in its 2026 organizational negotiations with the Ministry of Economy and Finance to improve case processing times. However, in Japan, which operates a similar family investigator system, there are about 1,600 investigators. Based on this comparison, some analysts argue that South Korea needs to expand its workforce to more than three times the current size, requiring over 400 investigators.

Park stated, "Cases handled by family courts involve the pain of families and the lives of individuals," and emphasized, "A shortage of investigators and excessive workloads must not inflict further suffering on those involved."

He added, "At the National Assembly level, we will strengthen support for expanding personnel and improving work distribution systems so that family investigators can fully exercise their expertise. I also urge the courts to do their utmost to enhance work efficiency and ensure prompt case processing."