Seoul: The heads of courts across the country met at the Supreme Court on Friday to discuss the judiciary's countermeasures for two judicial reform bills pushed by the ruling Democratic Party (DP) -- the creation of a dedicated special tribunal to handle insurrection cases and the establishment of a new crime of "legal distortion." Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae said in his opening remarks that it is desirable that the reform of the judicial system be carried out cautiously, based on the judgment of experts, after sufficient discussions.

According to Yonhap News Agency, "The judicial system performs the important function of protecting the rights of the people and maintaining social order. If it is reformed in the wrong direction, the result could cause direct and irreversible damage to the people," Cho said. DP lawmakers passed the two bills through the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee on Wednesday amid a boycott by the main opposition People Power Party.

One bill calls for establishing the dedicated insurrection court division to handle insurrection cases stemming from former President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed imposition of martial law a year ago. The other, called the legal distortion crime bill, allows for the punishment of judges and prosecutors who intentionally distort legal principles or manipulate facts in a case under trial or investigation.

The DP reportedly aims to pass the two bills through the National Assembly plenary session by year's end. Prior to the regular meeting of the top judges, the National Court Administration under the Supreme Court had asked them to collect the opinions of all judges on the two DP-led bills.