"We Demand an Appellate Court... Mayor Park Hyungjoon Warns on Facebook: 'Concerns Over Busan Maritime Court Becoming an Empty Shell'"

"We demand an appellate court. Are you going to turn the Maritime Court into an empty shell?"

Park Hyungjoon, the Mayor of Busan, commented on the ongoing efforts to establish the Maritime Court in Busan alongside the relocation of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, stating, "This has been a long-standing aspiration of Busan citizens, but without securing appellate jurisdiction, it will have no real effect."

On December 9, through a post on his social media, Mayor Park expressed concerns about the government's direction regarding the establishment of the Maritime Court. He voiced his unease about the government considering a plan to have the main offices of the Maritime Court in both Busan and Incheon, saying, "Busan citizens, who have campaigned for 15 years to host the court, cannot help but feel bitter about this situation."

Mayor Park emphasized, "Busan was the first to advocate for the Maritime Court, and it is also the city that needs it the most. It is hard to understand why Busan is being put at a disadvantage." He continued, "If appellate panels are placed in two locations under the current Seoul metropolitan area-centric system, the Busan Maritime Court's functions will inevitably be weakened. The appellate function must be firmly established in Busan."

He also addressed the issue of the concentration of judicial functions. "Over 90% of the top 30 conglomerates and 77% of the top 500 companies are located in the Seoul metropolitan area, and the majority of law firms are concentrated in Seoul as well," he noted. "A structure in which maritime cases are not centralized in Busan will only further disrupt the balance."

Mayor Park explained why Busan should be at the center of the maritime judicial system, citing that the city is well-equipped with maritime industry, maritime finance, and maritime and fisheries administration. He stated, "Busan has already established itself as a global port and logistics city, as well as a hub for the maritime industry. The establishment of the Maritime Court should provide the legal foundation befitting this status."

The timing of the court's establishment was also raised as an issue. Mayor Park criticized, "The approach of building a new courthouse and only launching the court years later will not allow citizens to receive quality legal services promptly." Citing the example of the U.S. Supreme Court, he argued, "The key is not having a grand building, but how quickly services can be provided to citizens."

Mayor Park pointed out, "Due to the absence of a Maritime Court, more than 300 billion won is lost overseas every year," adding, "Utilizing existing court facilities to open the Maritime Court as soon as possible is the way to prevent national losses."

Mayor Park concluded, "The government must begin establishing the Maritime Court with unified appellate jurisdiction in Busan," and urged, "I hope the government proves its commitment to the pledge of making Busan the maritime capital."

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