The Supreme Court of Korea is composed of the Chief Justice and 13 Justices. One of the Justices serves as the Minister of National Court Administration. However, this Justice does not take part in cases before the Supreme Court and does not sit on the bench.

The Supreme Court of Korea, as the court of last resort, hears appeals from judgments or rulings rendered by the high courts, the Patent Court, and the appellate panels of district and family courts in civil, criminal, administrative, patent, and domestic relations cases. In special circumstances, it can also review exceptional appeals regarding first-instance judgments.

The Supreme Court of Korea has the authority to review rulings issued by the Korean Maritime Safety Tribunal under the Act on the Investigation of and Inquiry into Marine Accidents. It also holds exclusive jurisdiction over matters related to the validity of presidential and parliamentary elections. The Supreme Court of Korea can also review the constitutionality and legality of orders, rules, regulations, and administrative actions by government entities.

The jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of Korea is exercised either by the en banc court or by panels of justices. The en banc court convenes with the presence of at least two-thirds of all Justices and is presided over by the Chief Justice. A panel, also known as a petit bench, consists of four Justices. There are currently three panels operating within the Court.

All decisions made by a panel must be unanimous. In contrast, decisions made by the en banc court are determined by a majority vote. While most appeals to the Supreme Court are resolved by panels, a case may be referred to the en banc court if a panel is unable to reach a unanimous decision or if the case involves specific categories that require full-bench deliberation. These categories include potential inconsistencies with precedent or cases that raise important questions of legal principle.

A case may also be referred to the en banc court if it falls under any of the following circumstances:

   - When it is deemed that an order, rule, or regulation violates the Constitution;
   - When it is deemed that an order, rule, or regulation is contrary to existing law;
   - When it is deemed necessary to modify the Supreme Court’s previous interpretation of the Constitution, laws, orders, rules, or regulations; or
   - When it is determined that adjudication by a panel (petty bench) is not appropriate.

The adjudication process by the Supreme Court of Korea is governed by the Act on Special Cases Concerning Procedure for Trial by the Supreme Court, which has a unique feature. According to this Act, if the grounds for appeal presented by the appellant do not fall within the legally specified categories, the Supreme Court may dismiss the appeal without examining the case further. In these situations, there is no requirement for the Court to provide reasons for the dismissal. This process is referred to as the Discontinuation of Adjudication. It is important to note that this procedure does not apply to criminal appeals.

Judicial administration refers to the management and organizational aspects of the judiciary. This includes overseeing human resources, budgets, accounting, facilities, and other essential functions necessary for the operation of the courts.

The Chief Justice has general authority over judicial administrative affairs and is responsible for directing and supervising relevant officials. This authority can be partially delegated to the Minister of National Court Administration, chief judges of individual courts, the President of the Judicial Research and Training Institute, the President of the Training Institute for Court Officials, or the President of the Supreme Court Library.

Matters of significant importance in judicial administration require a resolution by the Council of Supreme Court Justices.

The Council of Supreme Court Justices is the highest deliberative body responsible for judicial administration. It consists of all Supreme Court Justices and is led by the Chief Justice. A quorum is achieved when more than two-thirds of the Justices are present, and a resolution is adopted with the majority consent of those in attendance.

The Council discusses and passes resolutions on important matters, including the appointment of lower court judges, the establishment or revision of Supreme Court Rules and Regulations, the compilation and publication of judicial precedents, budget requests, the expenditure of reserve funds, settlement of accounts, and any other significant issues referred to it by the Chief Justice.

The Supreme Court possesses the authority to create judicial laws and can set rules and regulations regarding judicial proceedings, internal court discipline, and the management of judicial affairs, given that these do not conflict with existing laws. The adoption or modification of these Supreme Court rules and regulations requires a resolution passed by the Council of Supreme Court Justices.

If necessary, the Chief Justice may submit a written opinion to the National Assembly regarding the enactment or revision of laws related to court organization, personnel matters, operations, judicial proceedings, registrations, family relations registration, or other judicial affairs.

The Judicial Research Division within the Supreme Court is composed of research judges and legal researchers with expertise. They are responsible for examining cases and conducting in-depth judicial research to support the Court’s deliberations.

The high courts in South Korea are located in six major cities: Seoul, Daejeon, Daegu, Busan, Gwangju, and Suwon. To enhance access to justice, additional high court bench locations have been established in Chuncheon, Cheongju, Changwon, Jeonju, Incheon, Ulsan, and Jeju Province.

High courts have jurisdiction over appeals from judgments or orders issued by three-judge panels in district courts, family courts, bankruptcy courts, and first-instance administrative courts. These appeals are heard by a panel of three high court judges. Under the dual personnel system for judges, high court judges are appointed from among legal professionals with substantial experience who apply for the role. Once appointed, these judges typically remain in the high courts and are not transferred to district courts, except in exceptional circumstances.

There are currently 18 district courts across the country. Each district court has an administrative bureau responsible for managing judicial administrative affairs. Additionally, branch courts and municipal courts can be established under the authority of a district court. At present, there are 42 branch courts operating nationwide.

Cases that involve a controversial amount exceeding 500 million Korean won (approximately US$330,000, based on an exchange rate of 1,500 KRW per USD) or amounts that cannot be quantified are handled by a panel of three judges. However, there are exceptions for cases regarding the collection of checks or bills, as well as claims from financial institutions for loan repayments. These exceptions are handled by a single judge, regardless of the amount in controversy.

Sentences that involve the death penalty, life imprisonment, or imprisonment for a minimum of one year are typically addressed by a panel of judges. However, there are exceptions for certain offenses-such as check counterfeiting, habitual violence, or habitual larceny-which are overseen by a single judge, regardless of the potential severity of the punishment. District courts also have appellate jurisdiction over judgments or rulings made by a single judge in district, branch, or municipal courts. These appeals are reviewed by a panel of three judges, known as an appellate panel, which is similar in structure to a standard trial panel.

Municipal courts handle minor cases under their original jurisdiction. Currently, there are 99 municipal courts nationwide. These courts oversee small claims where the amount in dispute does not exceed 30 million Korean won (approximately USD 20,000, based on an exchange rate of 1,500 KRW per USD), as well as misdemeanor cases where the penalty may involve detention or a fine not exceeding 200,000 Korean won (about USD 133).

Historically, the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) managed disputes related to patents, utility models, designs, and trademarks through a two-tier administrative judgment system. Appeals against KIPO’s decisions could only be filed with the Supreme Court, bypassing the lowr courts.

To address this limitation, the Intellectual Property High Court (IP High Court) was established on March 1, 1998, as part of broader judicial reforms. Operating at the high court level, the IP High Court operates as the court of first instance for appeals against decisions made by the Intellectual Property Tribunal. Appeals from the rulings of the IP High Court go directly to the Supreme Court, establishing a two-tier judicial structure for these cases. Following the amendment of the Court Organization Act, effective January 1, 2016, the IP High Court was also granted appellate jurisdiction over intellectual property infringement cases. These infringement cases are initially heard by panels of judges at designated district courts, including Seoul Central, Busan, Daegu, Gwangju, and Daejeon. Appeals from these district courts are then directed to the IP High Court, while further appeals can be taken to the Supreme Court, thus creating a three-tier court system for infringement matters.

The IP High Court employs technical examiners with academic backgrounds in natural sciences, engineering, and related technical fields for efficient operations. These experts provide specialized technical consultation and guidance to judges in patent and utility model cases throughout the judicial process.

Since the establishment of the Seoul Family Court on October 1, 1963, as the first specialized court for domestic relations and juvenile cases, the Busan Family Court was established on April 11, 2011; Daejeon, Daegu, and Gwangju Family Courts, along with their 16 branches, were instituted on March 1st, 2012; Incheon Family Court and Bucheon Branch Court opened on March 1st, 2016; the Ulsan Family Court was launched on March 1, 2018, followed by the Suwon Family Court and its five branch courts on March 1, 2019. In regions where a family court or a family branch court has not been established, the respective district court or its branch exercises jurisdiction over domestic relations and juvenile offense cases. Since the establishment of the Seoul Family Court on October 1, 1963, which was the first specialized court for domestic relations and juvenile cases, family courts have gradually expanded across the country.

The Busan Family Court was established on April 11, 2011. On March 1, 2012, the Daejeon, Daegu, and Gwangju Family Courts were created, along with 16 branch courts. The Incheon Family Court and the Bucheon Branch Court opened on March 1, 2016, followed by the launch of the Ulsan Family Court on March 1, 2018. On March 1, 2019, the Suwon Family Court was established, along with five branch courts. In areas where a family court or branch has not yet been established, jurisdiction over domestic relations and juvenile cases is handled by the respective district court or its branch.

As a specialized court, the Family Court not only adjudicates domestic conflicts, juvenile matters, and child abuse cases, but also seeks to focus on protection and welfare. To this end, the court carries out a restorative and supportive role, offering various counseling and educational programs. It also operates Visitation Centers, which provide a safe and comfortable environment for children and parents to meet before or after divorce.

Since July 1, 2013, the Family Court has also implemented the adult guardianship system to offer more adaptable protection for individuals who are mentally incapacitated due to illness, disability, aging, or other factors. The court administers commencement of adult guardianship proceedings and supervises guardianship management after the appointment. This ensures that appropriate care and legal protection continues until the case is closed.

Domestic relations cases are heard either by a panel of three judges or by a single judge. In cases involving juvenile offenses, domestic violence, and child protection, a single judge presides over the proceedings. Each family court has a conciliation committee to manage conciliation proceedings and investigative officers to conduct any necessary investigations. In areas where a family court or branch has not yet been established, jurisdiction over domestic relations and juvenile cases is handled by the respective district court or its branch.

The Administrative Court, which was established on March 1, 1998, operates at the same level as district courts and is located in Seoul. Currently, it is the only Administrative Court in the country. Until regional administrative courts are set up, district courts in each jurisdiction will handle the functions of the Administrative Court.

This court has jurisdiction over matters related to taxation, eminent domain, labor disputes, and other areas of administrative law. Previously, individuals were required to exhaust all administrative remedies before being able to file an administrative lawsuit. However, since the establishment of the court, plaintiffs can now file administrative lawsuits directly, unless a specific law mandates prior administrative procedures.

On March 1, 2017, the Seoul Bankruptcy Court was established as Korea's first specialized court focused on rehabilitation and bankruptcy. Bankruptcy Courts have jurisdiction over a variety of insolvency matters, including corporate rehabilitation and bankruptcy, general and individual rehabilitation, individual bankruptcy, cross-border insolvency cases, and other related proceedings. These specialized courts are anticipated to significantly enhance public trust in the judiciary and improve the application of the rule of law in matters of corporate restructuring and individual debt adjustment.

The Suwon and Busan Bankruptcy Courts were established on March 1, 2023. In regions without a Bankruptcy Court, insolvency cases are handled by the main district court. However, an exception applies to the Gangneung Branch of the Chuncheon District Court, which has jurisdiction over individual rehabilitation and bankruptcy cases in Gangneung City, Donghae City, Samcheok City, Sokcho City, Yangyang County, and Goseong County. To further improve professional insolvency services, additional Bankruptcy Courts are set to be established in Daejeon, Daegu, and Gwangju by March 1, 2026.