Seoul High Court to Establish Dedicated Panels for Insurrection and Treason Cases... Expanding Criminal Divisions by 2 to 3

Full Judges' Meeting Scheduled for December 22
Additional Criminal Divisions to Handle "Nationally Significant Cases"
Follow-up to Supreme Court Directive

The Seoul High Court is set to discuss follow-up measures regarding the Supreme Court's directive to establish a dedicated panel for insurrection cases. This includes increasing the number of criminal divisions and designating some of them as special panels to handle "nationally significant cases," such as the insurrection charges against former President Yoon Suk-yeol.

On December 19, the Seoul High Court announced that it will hold a full judges' meeting on December 22 to discuss the allocation of duties in line with the expansion to more than two criminal divisions. If the proposal is approved, starting next year the court will be composed of a total of 16 criminal divisions, with 2 to 3 of these designated as dedicated panels for criminal appeals.

According to the National Court Administration, the previous day the Supreme Court Justices' Administrative Meeting decided to establish regulations on the installation of dedicated panels and trial procedures for nationally significant cases. This applies to cases of insurrection and treason under the Criminal Act, as well as rebellion under the Military Criminal Act, where the political, economic, or social impact is considerable, public interest is high, and expedited proceedings are required.

The Seoul High Court plans to finalize the specific number of dedicated panels, the procedures for their formation, and the timeline through the full judges' meeting. It also aims to confirm the assignment of judges to the criminal divisions by mid-February next year.

The decision to increase the number of panel members has already been made. Previously, the Seoul High Court requested additional panels and staff for intensive trials of major cases, and the National Court Administration responded by assigning four additional panel officers and three administrative officers effective January 1 next year. Any further personnel additions will be made before the formation of the dedicated panels.

The Seoul High Court stated, "During the regular judicial personnel appointments next year, it is expected that six additional judges will be assigned to accommodate the expansion of two panels. Each dedicated panel will also be staffed with at least three judicial researchers to assist in the hearings."