People Power Party on Dedicated Court Panel Regulations: "Democratic Party Must Immediately Withdraw Insurrection-Dedicated Court Bill"

"Insurrection-Dedicated Court Bill Fraught with Risks"

On December 18, the People Power Party urged the Democratic Party of Korea to immediately withdraw the bill on the establishment of a dedicated court for insurrection cases, stating, "Regardless of the Supreme Court's decision to create internal guidelines for a dedicated panel to exclusively and intensively review cases related to insurrection and treason under the Criminal Act and rebellion under the Military Criminal Act, the Democratic Party must retract the insurrection-dedicated court bill without delay."

Choi Boyoon, chief spokesperson of the People Power Party, told reporters at the National Assembly that afternoon, "The People Power Party has consistently argued that the bill on the insurrection-dedicated court is fraught with risks, including a violation of the principle of random case assignment."

Yonhap News Agency

Earlier, the Supreme Court announced that it had decided, during an administrative meeting of Supreme Court justices, to establish regulations on the creation and trial procedures of dedicated panels for cases of national importance. The regulations provide grounds for the establishment of a dedicated panel to exclusively and intensively review cases involving insurrection and treason under the Criminal Act and rebellion under the Military Criminal Act. Case assignments will remain random as before, but the panel assigned to a case may later be designated as the dedicated panel.

Choi emphasized, "According to the Supreme Court's announcement, regulations have been established to ensure swift trials, and it has been reported that principles such as random case assignment are being properly observed. If that is the case, the insurrection-dedicated court bill should be withdrawn immediately."

When asked whether it is appropriate to establish such regulations if the randomness of case assignment is maintained, Choi added, "There are aspects that require further review, but separately, the Democratic Party’s bill itself must be withdrawn."