South Korea's National Assembly Passes Constitutional Court Reform Bill

South Korea's National Assembly passed a Constitutional Court Act amendment on Tuesday that would allow the court to review lower court rulings, a measure known as the "judicial appeal system."

The bill passed with 162 votes in favor and 63 against among 225 lawmakers present at the plenary session held Tuesday evening.

Under the new system, litigants can file constitutional complaints against finalized court rulings if they violate the constitution or laws, fail to follow due process, or infringe on constitutional rights contrary to Constitutional Court decisions.

The opposition People Power Party has opposed the measure, calling it "a bill that dismantles the three-tier judicial system and threatens the separation of powers and judicial independence."

When a vote to end the filibuster on the bill proceeded during the plenary session, People Power Party lawmakers staged a protest in front of the speaker's podium, holding signs and banners reading "Immediately withdraw judicial destruction."