Overview

The judiciary has consistently provided accommodations to ensure equal access to and participation in judicial procedures and services for persons with disabilities.

On December 17, 2025, the National Court Administration (NCA) enacted the “Established Rules on Judicial Access and Support for Persons with Disabilities, the Elderly, and Pregnant Women, etc.” (hereinafter, the “Established Rules on Judicial Access and Support”) to institutionalize and standardize judicial support services while raising awareness within and outside the court.

Effective date: January 1, 2026

Significance of the Enactment

The Supreme Court established the "Judicial Support Guidelines for Persons with Disabilities" in 2013 and revised them in 2020. The UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, referencing the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, recommended in its "Concluding Observations on the Initial Report of the Republic of Korea" that these guidelines be given binding legal effect.

The Established Rules on Judicial Access and Support systematically upgrade and codify the 2013 Guidelines, thereby granting them substantial legal weight. Notably, this marks the first time a government agency has established comprehensive internal norms for providing accommodations to those in need. This development also enables Korea to fulfill the recommendations of the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities regarding judicial access.

The NCA engaged persons with disabilities and relevant organizations throughout the drafting process and actively sought their feedback. The NCA’s Judicial Support Research Team for Socially Vulnerable Groups laid the foundation for these rules by incorporating input from legal professionals with disabilities, disability rights advocates, and support organizations. This ensured that the perspectives of people with disabilities were fully reflected.

¡á Key Takeaways from the Established Rules on Judicial Access and Support

The Established Rules on Judicial Access and Support expand support beyond persons with disabilities to include those whose access to justice is limited by injury, illness, advanced age, pregnancy, or childbirth. The Rules also require improved facilities and accessibility information, the establishment of judicial support systems (such as Judicial Access Centers) at all court levels, and clear procedures outlining the types of available support.

They outline the core rules for: 1) eligibility for judicial support and the scope of procedures and services; 2) measures courts must take to ensure access to justice for eligible individuals, including facility and information accessibility and the provision of assistive devices; 3) the establishment, management, organization, and operation of Judicial Access Centers; 4) the organization, training, and education of the NCA and all judicial bodies to facilitate support; 5) protocols for providing support in civil complaints and trial proceedings; and 6) procedures and guidelines for supporting various disabilities, including the provision of allowances for assistants who offer  mobility or communication aid. 

The Established Rules on Judicial Access and Support provide the judiciary with a stronger foundation for implementing support in a systematic and consistent manner.  They are expected to help guarantee the constitutional right to a fair trial for all citizens, without discrimination, by ensuring the structured and effective delivery of judicial support services.

The judiciary remains committed to improving judicial support services and ensuring everyone—especially persons with disabilities—has meaningful access to justice.