South Korea's legislature on Tuesday (December 23, 2025) passed a Bill mandating specialised panels in Seoul's district and High Courts for cases involving rebellion, treason, and foreign subversion after complaints about the pace of the rebellion trial of jailed former President Yoon Suk Yeol.
But the Bill, which is likely to be signed into law by President Lee Jae Myung, would fall short of the effect the Democratic Party initially sought from the liberal-led legislature. Lawmakers altered the wording to ensure the measure would not apply to ongoing trials. Critics have said the original draft risked infringing on judicial independence.
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The law would require the Seoul Central District Court and the Seoul High Court to establish at least two specialised panels for cases involving rebellion, treason, and foreign subversion. Each panel must consist of a three-Judge Bench selected by the judges' council at each court. The Bill passed the legislature 175–2 with two abstentions after many conservatives boycotted the vote.
The vote was delayed after Jang Dong-hyuk, the leader of the conservative People Power Party, staged a 24-hour filibuster, arguing that the Bill remained unconstitutional even after repeated revisions and accusing Democrats of pressuring courts to create benches they favour. Following Tuesday's (December 23) vote, PPP leaders called on Mr. Lee to veto the Bill.
