[2024 National Audit] In Response to Lee Jae-myung's Criticism of Trial Delays... Court Says "Urgent Need to Increase Number of Judges"

Kim Jeong-jung, Chief Judge of the Seoul Central District Court, stated that the increase in the number of judges is urgent in response to criticisms regarding trial delays involving Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, and other major politicians.

Kim Jeong-jung, Chief Judge of the Seoul Central District Court, is responding to lawmakers' questions during the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee's audit of the Seoul High Court, Seoul Central District Court, Suwon District Court, and others held on the 22nd. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

At the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee hearing on the Seoul Central District Court held on the 22nd, Kwak Gyu-taek, a member of the People Power Party, pointed out, “We cannot overlook the issue of trial delays for major politicians,” adding, “The Public Official Election Act stipulates that all trials from the first to the third instance must be completed within one year, but the first trial for Lee Jae-myung took more than two years.”

He continued, “The perjury coaching case also took more than a year until the first trial verdict, and the Daejang-dong case trial was significantly delayed,” and noted, “In reviewing the trial progress, there were instances where the defendant was absent without permission, causing the trial dates to be postponed.”

In response, Chief Judge Kim said, “At the Central District Court, 14 criminal panels hold trials three to four times a week, and judges are working overtime and on weekends to write verdicts. They are very exhausted, which is regrettable,” adding, “The number of panels needs to increase by at least four to allow trial dates to be held two to three times a week, enabling judges to maintain composure and conduct focused hearings.”

When Jeong Cheong-rae, chairman of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, asked, “What efforts is the court making to resolve the trial delay issue?” Yoon Jun, Chief Judge of the Seoul High Court, emphasized, “There are currently eight vacant judge positions, which could lead to trial backlogs,” and said, “It is very urgent to immediately recruit young judges so that trials can proceed quickly. We will strive to resolve trial delays through various methods.”

On the same day, Song Seok-jun, a member of the People Power Party, referred to Lee Jae-myung’s first trial sessions scheduled for the 15th and 25th of next month, stating, “Realistically, there will be various pressures,” and urged, “At times like this, the court must establish judicial justice swiftly and strictly based on legal principles and facts.” In response, Chief Judge Kim said, “The presiding panel will make fair judgments based on evidence and legal principles without being influenced by power or public opinion.”

The opposition Democratic Party criticized the Suwon District Court’s rejection of Lee Jae-myung’s request for reassignment of the trial panel related to the Ssangbangwool North Korea remittance case, demanding guarantees of a ‘fair trial.’ Jeon Hyun-hee, a Democratic Party member, stated, “In the trial of former Gyeonggi Province Deputy Governor Lee Hwa-young, Judge Shin Jin-woo acknowledged that the Ssangbangwool North Korea remittance was the cost of Lee Jae-myung’s visit to North Korea,” adding, “This means Judge Shin holds unfavorable suspicions and prejudgments against Lee, which will affect future trials.”

She further said, “Since only the defendant changes in cases already judged by the same judge, and without new evidence, it is clear that the same verdict is likely to be rendered,” and added, “This violates the obligation to conduct a fair trial based on the principle of indictment exclusivity.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.