Supreme Court Files 1.1 Billion Won Damage Suit Over Seoul Western District Court Riot: "Threat to Judicial Independence"

▲ The signboard damaged in the Seoul Western District Court riot

The National Court Administration of the Supreme Court has filed a civil lawsuit seeking approximately 1.1 billion won in damages for restoration costs against participants in the "Seoul Western District Court riot" that occurred in January of last year.

The National Court Administration announced today (the 26th) that it "filed a damage suit with the Seoul Central District Court against five individuals whose convictions for participating in the Western District Court riot have been finalized, seeking 1,175,899,770 won in restoration costs for physical damages along with delayed interest."

The plaintiff is the Republic of Korea, and the competent authority is the National Court Administration.

The Seoul Western District Court riot was an incident that took place on January 19 of last year, when supporters, angered by the issuance of an arrest warrant for former President Yoon Suk Yeol, forcibly trespassed into the Western District Court, destroyed the building, and rioted by assaulting police officers trying to stop them.

In February of that year, prosecutors indicted a total of 70 participants on charges including special unlawful entry into a building.

In April of last year, the Supreme Court finalized the convictions of 18 of these individuals.

Convictions for most of the remaining participants have also been finalized in the first and second instances.

The National Court Administration stated that it prioritized filing the lawsuit against five individuals considering the forms of their crimes, and added that it may file suits against the remaining participants through future reviews.

The National Court Administration explained, "Enormous damage was inflicted due to the riot," adding, "At the Seoul Western District Court building, numerous facilities such as glass windows, doors, exterior walls, internal office furniture, and computer equipment were severely damaged, and the public officials belonging to the court suffered severe psychological shock."

It further emphasized, "This was a collective act of violence and destruction against a court building where the judicial functions of the state are carried out. Beyond simple property damage or acts of violence, it constitutes a grave illegal act that seriously undermined the function and authority of the court, which is the last bastion of protecting the people's fundamental rights and the rule of law."

The National Court Administration pointed out, "It is imperative to hold legally accountable those who participated in this riot, a grave incident that disturbed the constitutional order, directly threatened the independence of the judiciary, and shook the foundations of the rule of law and democracy."

The National Court Administration explained that this lawsuit was filed after prior legal review by the Litigation Support Center, which supports state litigation tasks related to the courts.

The National Court Administration stated, "The judiciary will continue to respond resolutely to acts that unjustly infringe upon the rule of law and the functions of the judiciary, and will make its utmost efforts to ensure that the essential function of the judiciary as 'the last bastion protecting the people's fundamental rights' is fully maintained."

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