Politics · South Korea · 1 hr ago
South Korean judges move national meeting forward amid political tensions
The National Conference of Court Representatives will meet on November 30, a week earlier than planned.
The body represents judges from courts across South Korea, and its regular meeting had been scheduled for December 7.
Members voted to bring the meeting forward after discussing whether to hold an extra meeting or change the date.
The decision comes amid growing political pressure on the judiciary, including a special prosecutor bill and plans by the ruling Democratic Party to seek a parliamentary inquiry into Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae.
Some judges have voiced opposition to what they see as attacks on the courts, and their comments have drawn support from judges at different levels.
The meeting is expected to address judicial independence and the judges’ response to the pressure.
The Democratic Party had paused its inquiry plan to gather more views, but the meeting’s earlier date could bring that effort back into focus.
The National Court Judges’ Conference moved its second regular meeting of 2026 from Dec. 7 to Nov. 30.
The conference’s steering committee announced the date change on Nov. 6.
The change followed calls from judges for an earlier meeting amid opposition to a proposed parliamentary investigation of Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae.
The meeting may discuss judicial independence, according to the Chosun Ilbo.
The Democratic Party decided to gather more internal views before submitting its request for an investigation.
- Who
- The National Court Judges’ Conference, a body representing judges from courts across South Korea.
- What
- It moved its second regular meeting of 2026 from Dec. 7 to Nov. 30.
- When
- The meeting is scheduled for Nov. 30, 2026; the change was announced on Nov. 6.
- Where
- South Korea. The meeting venue is Not stated.
- Why
- Judges called for an earlier meeting amid opposition to a proposed parliamentary investigation of Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Judge Sung Chan-yong posted on the court intranet criticizing attacks on Chief Justice Cho and the silence within the courts.
The National Court Judges’ Conference announced that its second regular meeting of the year would be held on Dec. 7.
The Democratic Party decided to gather more internal views instead of submitting its investigation request to the plenary session.
The conference’s steering committee announced that the regular meeting would be moved to Nov. 30.
- Original meeting date
- Dec. 7, 2026
- Revised meeting date
- Nov. 30, 2026
- Announcement date
- Nov. 6, 2026
- Meeting body
- National Court Judges’ Conference
- Investigation target
- Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae
4 sources
What people are saying
In urgent cases, we are also considering convening an extraordinary meeting or bringing forward the regular meeting scheduled for Dec. 7 to November
The head of the judiciary, the chief justice, is attacked and criticized almost every day, and legislation and public opinion campaigns whose purpose or meaning are difficult to understand are rampant, yet inside the courts it is far too quiet