Supreme Court of South Korea
Encyclopedia
The Supreme Court of Korea is the highest court
in South Korea
. It is located in Seoul
.
Articles 101-110 of the Constitution of the Republic of Korea
establish the Supreme Court and enumerates its powers and responsibilities.
, and 13 other Supreme Court Justices, 12 of which have adjudicatory functions. The 13th justice of the Supreme Court is appointed by the Chief Justice as the Minister of Court Administration, and does not participate in rendering judicial opinions.
The Chief Justice of Korea is appointed to the court by the President
with the consent of the National Assembly, and serves a non-renewable term of six years from the time of appointment. The Chief Justice acts as the head of the judicial branch of the Republic of Korea, and has broad administrative powers under the Constitution, including the right to recommend other justices to the Supreme Court and the right to appoint judges of the inferior courts. The current Chief Justice is Lee Yong-hun.
The 13 other Justices are appointed to the court by the President on the recommendation of the Chief Justice and the consent of the National Assembly, and serve renewable terms of six years.
By law, to be eligible for appointment to the Supreme Court, a person must be over 40, and have spent at least 15 years:
For the most part, Supreme Court Justices are appointed from the bench.
Supreme Court Justices are required to retire at age 65 (70 for the Chief Justice).
To pass a resolution, the Justices Council requires a quorum of more than two-thirds of the Justices of the Supreme Court, a majority of which must approve of the proposed measure. The Chief Justice has a vote on the Council, and is given the prerogative to cast the deciding vote in the event of a tie.
, Seocho-gu
, Seoul
. This has been the home of the Supreme Court of South Korea since December 1, 1995. Before moving to its new building, the court was housed in a 10,300 square meter building building built in 1928 as well as two annex buildings at 37 Seosomun-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul.
Supreme court
A supreme court is the highest court within the hierarchy of many legal jurisdictions. Other descriptions for such courts include court of last resort, instance court, judgment court, high court, or apex court...
in South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
. It is located in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
.
Articles 101-110 of the Constitution of the Republic of Korea
Constitution of the Republic of Korea
The Constitution of the Republic of Korea is its basic law. It was promulgated on July 17, 1948, and last revised in 1987.- History :...
establish the Supreme Court and enumerates its powers and responsibilities.
Composition
The Supreme Court of Korea is composed of the Chief Justice of the Republic of KoreaChief Justice of the Republic of Korea
The Chief Justice of the Republic of Korea is the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Korea. The Chief Justice is considered the head of the judicial branch of the South Korean government.The current Chief Justice of the Republic of Korea is Lee Yong-hun....
, and 13 other Supreme Court Justices, 12 of which have adjudicatory functions. The 13th justice of the Supreme Court is appointed by the Chief Justice as the Minister of Court Administration, and does not participate in rendering judicial opinions.
The Chief Justice of Korea is appointed to the court by the President
President of South Korea
The President of the Republic of Korea is, according to the Constitution of the Republic of Korea, chief executive of the government, commander-in-chief of the armed forces, and the head of state of the Republic of Korea...
with the consent of the National Assembly, and serves a non-renewable term of six years from the time of appointment. The Chief Justice acts as the head of the judicial branch of the Republic of Korea, and has broad administrative powers under the Constitution, including the right to recommend other justices to the Supreme Court and the right to appoint judges of the inferior courts. The current Chief Justice is Lee Yong-hun.
The 13 other Justices are appointed to the court by the President on the recommendation of the Chief Justice and the consent of the National Assembly, and serve renewable terms of six years.
By law, to be eligible for appointment to the Supreme Court, a person must be over 40, and have spent at least 15 years:
- as a judge, public prosecutor, or lawyer or
- engaged in legal affairs at the state organs, local governments, state-run or public enterprises, state-financed institutions while qualified as a lawyer or
- in an office higher than assistant professor in the field of jurisprudence at an authorized college or university while qualified as a lawyer.
For the most part, Supreme Court Justices are appointed from the bench.
Supreme Court Justices are required to retire at age 65 (70 for the Chief Justice).
Research judges
The Supreme Court also employs a number of research judges, whose function is to assist the Justices in researching their opinions. These research judges may either be assigned to a particular justice, or else belong to a 'pool' that provides assistance to any Justice. The research judges are appointed from among the judges of the other courts, usually presiding judges of the district courts or else associate judges of the high courts. As of May, 2005, there were 3 research judges assigned to each of the Justices (36 in total) as well as 23 others who constituted the 'pool.'Jurisdiction
As the court of last resort for the Republic of Korea, the Supreme Court has appellate jurisdiction over cases in the South Korean legal system. Additionally, the Supreme Court has original jurisdiction over challenges to the validity of a presidential or parliamentary election and the power to review the constitutionality and legality of rules, orders, regulations, and actions of administrative entities.Petty Benches
The Supreme Court is organized into three Petty Benches, each consisting of four Justices. Normally, the Petty Benches hear cases from the lower courts, which they may overturn by consensus. Should the Petty Bench assigned to a case fail to reach a consensus, the case will be heard by the Grand Bench.The Grand Bench
The Grand Bench must be composed of more than two-thirds of the Justices and be presided over by the Chief Justice. Unlike the Petty Benches, the Grand Bench can enter judgments by simple majority, rather than needing a consensus. If no majority can be reached amongst the Justices sitting on the Grand Bench, the judgment of the lower court is sustained by default. In addition to cases that fail to garner a consensus in one of the petty benches, the Grand Bench also hears cases where it is deemed that any order, rule, or regulation is in violation of the laws or the Constitution, where a previous opinion of the Supreme Court needs modification, or in cases where adjudication by the Petty Benches would not be appropriate.Administrative function
In addition to its adjudicative functions, the Supreme Court is also responsible for the administration of the South Korean court system.The Supreme Court Justices Council
The Supreme Court Justices Council comprises the highest body of court administration in the Republic of Korea. This council is presided over by the Chief Justice, with all of the Justices of the Supreme Court sitting on the Council. The Council has the power to promulgate the rules of procedure for the Supreme Court and lower courts, select judicial precedents for publication, request the budget for the judicial branch, and rule on other matters which are referred to it by the Chief Justice. In addition, the Council is responsible for confirming the nominations of the Chief Justice of judges for the lower courts.To pass a resolution, the Justices Council requires a quorum of more than two-thirds of the Justices of the Supreme Court, a majority of which must approve of the proposed measure. The Chief Justice has a vote on the Council, and is given the prerogative to cast the deciding vote in the event of a tie.
The Ministry of Court Administration
The Ministry of Court Administration is headed by the Minister of Court Administration, and handles much of the daily operation and general administrative duties of the judicial branch. The Minister and Vice Minister of Court Administration have the right to address the National Assembly and the State Council on issues related to court administration.Location
The court and its administrative offices are housed in a 66,500 square meter building located at 967 Seocho-dongSeocho-dong
Seocho-dong is a dong, or neighborhood of the Seocho-gu district of the South Korean city of Seoul. The main street is Teheranno.-Transportation:* Gangnam Station * Seocho Station -External links:**...
, Seocho-gu
Seocho-gu
Seocho-gu is a gu of Seoul, South Korea. It is a popular residential area for the mid- or upper-class residents in Seoul and home to the Supreme Court and the Supreme Prosecutors' Office. Seocho Samsung Town in Seocho-dong, near Gangnam Station, is the headquarter of the several corporations of the...
, Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
. This has been the home of the Supreme Court of South Korea since December 1, 1995. Before moving to its new building, the court was housed in a 10,300 square meter building building built in 1928 as well as two annex buildings at 37 Seosomun-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul.
See also
- List of Korea-related topics
- Constitution of the Republic of KoreaConstitution of the Republic of KoreaThe Constitution of the Republic of Korea is its basic law. It was promulgated on July 17, 1948, and last revised in 1987.- History :...
- Constitutional Court of KoreaConstitutional Court of KoreaThe Constitutional Court of Korea is an independent and specialised court in South Korea, whose primarily role is the reviewing constitutionality under the Constitution of the Republic of Korea...
- History of South KoreaHistory of South KoreaThe history of South Korea formally begins with the establishment of South Korea on 15 August 1948, although Syngman Rhee had declared the establishment in Seoul on 13 August....