Seoul Central District Court to establish specialized court for people with disabilities

Seoul Central District Court / Yonhap

Seoul Central District Court plans to establish a court dedicated to individuals with disabilities, according to legal circles, Thursday. This marks the first such move within the nation’s judiciary.

This initiative aims to actively support people with disabilities throughout judicial proceedings, addressing the challenges they often face, such as lack of assistance tailored to their specific needs.

The special court for individuals with disabilities will primarily handle criminal cases wherein either the defendant or the victim is a person with a disability.

It will ensure accessibility by providing braille documents and sign language interpretation during the trial process, facilitating the active participation of the disabled.

The Seoul Central District Court has also deployed two judicial support officers dedicated to assisting individuals with disabilities this month.

These officers are assigned to departments commonly visited by civil petitioners, such as the General Civil Service Office and the reception office for criminal cases.

Their role is to provide on-the-spot assistance with judicial procedures for people with disabilities, offering essential aid items such as hearing aids, reading aids and wheelchairs to enhance understanding and mobility during the trial process.

The number of individuals with disabilities continues to rise annually, leading to an increase in the population attending trials or visiting court offices. According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the registered disabled population reached approximately 2.65 million as of 2022, constituting about 5.2 percent of the Korean population.

While existing criminal courts have established specialized branches for sex crimes and corruption cases, and with services for foreign nationals, until now, none have addressed the specific needs of disabled people, despite the need.

“It holds significance to actualize the constitutional tenet of equality before the law by ensuring the equal participation of individuals with disabilities in judicial proceedings,” said an official at the Seoul Central District Court.