When will South Korea’s representative judges meet to discuss judicial independence?

The conference is scheduled for Nov. 30, one week earlier than its original date of Dec. 7. Its members voted to bring the meeting forward.

Why is the Democratic Party of Korea seeking a parliamentary probe into Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae?

The party accuses Cho of interfering in politics over the Supreme Court’s handling of President Lee Jae Myung’s election law case. It also objects to his refusal to recommend a Supreme Court justice candidate requested by the presidential office and cites allegations of improper use of official funds.

What have judges said about the calls to defend judicial independence?

Some judges have urged the judiciary to respond to what they view as attacks on its independence. In a post on the judiciary’s internal online forum, Incheon District Court Judge Seong Chan-yong called for judges to stand against unfair attacks, and others supported his call.

Nat'l conference of judges to be held this month amid calls for judicial independence

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Summary

Representative judges from courts nationwide will meet on Nov. 30 amid calls to uphold judicial independence in response to criticism of the judiciary by the ruling Democratic Party of Korea. Members voted to move the conference forward from its originally scheduled date of Dec. 7. No agenda has been set, but discussions are expected to include judicial independence. The party is seeking a parliamentary probe into Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae over alleged political interference.

Key Facts

The Democratic Party of Korea says Cho interfered in politics after the Supreme Court overturned a not-guilty verdict in President Lee Jae Myung’s election law case and sent it to a lower court for retrial.
The party has also criticized Cho for refusing to recommend a new Supreme Court justice candidate requested by the presidential office and over allegations of improper use of official funds.
Judge Seong Chan-yong of the Incheon District Court wrote on the judiciary’s internal online forum last week, “We must stand ground against unfair attacks,” and other judges voiced support.

By Yonhap

Published Nov 6, 2026 2:49 pm KST

Kim Ye-young, forth from left, chair of the National Conference of Judges, speaks during its regular meeting at the Judicial Research and Training Institute in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, Dec. 8, 2025. Korea Times photo by Choi Joo-yeon

A key conference of representative judges from courts nationwide will take place later this month, officials said Friday, amid calls to uphold judicial independence in response to the ruling party's criticism of the judiciary.

The conference had been initially set for Dec. 7 but will take place one week earlier than scheduled on Nov. 30 following a vote by its members.

No agenda has been set, but it is expected to include discussions on the judiciary's independence.

The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) has been pushing for a parliamentary probe into Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae, accusing him of interfering in politics.

The DPK has accused Cho of meddling in last year's presidential election after the Supreme Court overturned a not-guilty verdict in President Lee Jae Myung's election law violation case and sent it back to a lower court for retrial just ahead of the June 3 presidential election.

The party also took issue with Cho's refusal to recommend a new candidate for Supreme Court justice as requested by the presidential office, as well as allegations of improper use of official funds.

Some judges have called on the judiciary to respond to what they see as attacks on the judiciary's independence.

"We must stand ground against unfair attacks," Judge Seong Chan-yong of the Incheon District Court wrote on the judiciary's internal online forum last week, with others voicing support to the call.

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