South Korean Committee Cuts Supreme Court Justice Bonus Budget
Legislators remove 300 million won in bonuses citing lack of legal basis.
1Legislative Budget Adjustment
The Legislation and Judiciary Committee of the National Assembly held a budget review session on November 9. During this meeting, the committee voted to cut approximately 300 million won allocated for Supreme Court justice bonuses. This decision marks a significant shift in the oversight of judicial branch financial expenditures for next year.
2Unilateral Committee Action
The budget reduction was led primarily by ruling party members within the subcommittee. Notably, members of the People Power Party, who had previously declared a boycott of the budget review process, did not attend the session. This absence highlights the ongoing political friction regarding the judicial branch's internal financial management and oversight.
3Specific Budgetary Cuts
The subcommittee specifically targeted 324 million won from the Supreme Court's basic operating expenses. This amount was explicitly earmarked for the controversial bonus payments provided to Supreme Court justices. By removing this line item, the committee effectively blocked the funding source that had been identified as problematic in recent government audits.
4Audit Findings Background
The Board of Audit and Inspection revealed in August that the National Court Administration had been distributing bonuses since 2022. The audit covered the period through September 2025, involving 12 Supreme Court justices and the Minister of the National Court Administration. These payments were made without any clear legal basis for authorization.
5Bonus Payment Structure
The audit findings detailed the monthly distribution of these unauthorized funds. Supreme Court justices received an average of 2 million won per month, while the Minister of the National Court Administration received approximately 3 million won. These figures were central to the committee's decision to classify the expenditures as legally unjustifiable.
6Ministry Budget Increases
While the judicial bonus was cut, other areas saw significant budget increases during the same session. The Ministry of Justice's general account expenditure was raised by 78.15 billion won. Additionally, the Crime Victim Protection Fund received an increase of 5.33 billion won to support its ongoing operations and victim assistance programs.
7Anti-Corruption Agency Funding
The budget for the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials also saw a notable adjustment. Legislators approved an increase of 2.72 billion won in its expenditure budget. This allocation suggests a continued legislative focus on strengthening anti-corruption mechanisms despite the simultaneous scrutiny applied to the Supreme Court's internal financial practices.
8Future Oversight Implications
This move signals a stricter approach by the National Assembly toward judicial branch financial transparency. By stripping away funds lacking explicit legal grounds, the committee has set a precedent for future budget reviews. Observers should monitor how the Supreme Court responds to these cuts and whether internal payment policies are officially reformed.
Original article: Dong-A Ilbo — South Korean Committee Cuts Supreme Court Justice Bonus Budget