Lawmakers in South Korea, led by the ruling leftist Democratic Party, passed legislation to potentially expand the Supreme Court from 14 to 30 seats shortly after their leader, Lee Jae-myung, became president. The conservative People Power Party boycotted the vote, citing concerns over reshaping the court during political turmoil. The proposal aims to add four judges per year until reaching 30 total.
Key Points
Proposal to increase Supreme Court justices from 14 to 30
Conservative party boycotted the vote on the legislation
Concerns raised over lack of public input and potential paralysis in reaching verdicts
Pros
Potentially addressing overburdening of the current Supreme Court
Expediting the judicial process by having more justices
Cons
Rapidly changing the structure of the top court during political turmoil
Potential for increased difficulty in reaching verdicts with a larger bench