Amendment to Constitutional Court Act Allowing Constitutional Complaints Against Court Rulings Passes Legislation and Judiciary Committee Subcommittee

People Power Party Boycotts Vote Amid Criticism of an "Effective Four-Tier Court System"

The so-called 'law allowing constitutional complaints against court rulings', which would enable the Constitutional Court to review court decisions, has passed the threshold of the first subcommittee on bill review of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee of the National Assembly, led by the Democratic Party of Korea.

On the 11th, the Legislation and Judiciary Committee held a subcommittee meeting at the National Assembly and passed the amendment to the Constitutional Court Act. Lawmakers from the People Power Party walked out without taking part in the vote.

Kim Yongmin, Acting Chair of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, is striking the gavel at the committee's full meeting held at the National Assembly on the 18th. 2025.12.18 Photo by Kim Hyunmin

The constitutional complaint against court rulings is a system that allows a person to file a constitutional complaint review if a final court ruling, confirmed through an appeal to the Supreme Court, is deemed to have violated fundamental rights. However, the People Power Party has opposed the bill, arguing that it effectively introduces a four-tier court system.

Kim Yongmin, the Democratic Party of Korea secretary of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, met with reporters after the subcommittee meeting and said, "The recognition of constitutional complaints against court rulings has long been discussed in academia, and since 2017 the Constitutional Court has repeatedly requested the introduction of such legislation and continuously brought this issue into public debate," adding, "We have now handled something that has been discussed for a long time."

Assemblyman Kim explained, "In advanced countries where constitutional complaints against court rulings are recognized, even if the actual rate of such complaints being upheld is not high, public confidence in the judiciary increases. By introducing the constitutional complaint system, we aim to make this an important opportunity to enhance trust in the judiciary and to provide stronger protection for the fundamental rights of the people."

Meanwhile, an amendment to the Court Organization Act that allows voice phishing cases to be handled under the jurisdiction of a single judge rather than a panel of judges was passed at the subcommittee on the same day with bipartisan agreement.

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