▲ Seoul Central District Court
Incidents and accidents involving verbal abuse or disturbances at court buildings have more than doubled over the past five years, yet the number of individuals subjected to confinement or fines has been tallied at only around 10 people each year.
According to data submitted by the Supreme Court to the office of Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Kim Yong-min, incidents and accidents occurring within court buildings and courtrooms increased 2.1 times from 267 cases in 2021 to 566 cases last year.
In the first half of this year alone, 305 cases have already occurred.
Based on last year's data, shouting was the most common with 192 cases, followed by verbal abuse with 83 cases, and habitual civil petitions with 81 cases.
In particular, contempt of court increased more than threefold, from 8 cases in 2021 to 18 cases last year.
This is interpreted as being influenced by heightened public interest in trials following consecutive indictments last year stemming from investigations by three special counsel teams, including those involving former President Yoon Suk Yeol and Kim Keon Hee.
Conversely, disposition of confinement or fines for maintaining courtroom order has remained at only around 10 people per year.
According to the National Court Administration, the number of individuals referred to court proceedings for maintaining courtroom order showed little difference, going from 31 people in 2021 to 30 people last year.
Cases that actually led to decisions of confinement or fines were limited to just 19 people last year, continuously maintaining a figure in the teens since 18 people in 2021.
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