At 2pm on Friday, May 21, the Supreme Court hosted forum on <Assessing the Supreme Court trial system – Focusing on the measures to improve the final appeal system> to discuss ways to improve final appeal system.

In consideration of the COVID-19, minimal participants including the chair, speakers and panelists will gather offline and the rest will participate online through livestreaming service. Offline participation also strictly complied with the disinfection and preventive guidelines.

Justice KIM Sang-hwan, who is the incumbent Minister of National Court Administration, gave a greeting remarks and emphasized that this forum was prepared to explain and listen to the citizens’ voices on the previously discussed methods to improve the final appeal system, and the Supreme Court will endeavour to reflect the public opinions as much as possible.

During Session 1, Presiding Judge PARK No-su of Seoul Central High Court spoke on the necessity and progress of the efforts to improve the final appeal system. Professor LEE In-ho from Chung Ang University Law School, Ms. SHIM Jung-hee, who is Grade 2 Official at the National Assembly Secretariat, and attorney MIN Hong-ki made presentations in Session 2 on various measures to improve the final appeal system.

In the following panel discussions, Presiding Judge HA Sang-ik of the Mokpo Branch Court of Gwangju District Court, Departmental Chief Prosecutor KIM Jong-woo of Daejeon District Prosecutors’ Office, Vice President KIM Kwan-ki (attorney-at-law and Vice President of the Korean Bar Association), Professor SHIM Seok-tae from Semyung University Graduate School of Journalism, and attorney SEONG Chak-ik had in-depth discussions on the pros and cons of improvement ideas proposed by the speakers; strengthening of fact finding at lower courts and the need to respect of lower courts’ judgements as prerequisites of the improvement of an appeal system; and reestablishment of the role of the highest court.

After the panel discussion, the forum had time to share the expert and public opinions and Q&A session by using Zoom and YouTube livestreaming.

This forum has significance in that unlike the previous discussions on final appeal system improvements where only experts gathered, this one allowed online participation of general citizens who are the users of judicial services. As a result, people from various spheres of the society such as professors, attorneys, company employees, students, etc. were able to participate in the forum.

The Supreme Court will continue gathering extensive opinions not only from the experts but from the general public through asking opinions to related institutions and additional public surveys.