Protests against court rulings have become a common sight outside courts at all levels. The photo shows members of the Korean Metal Workers’ Union holding a press conference in front of the Supreme Court in Seocho District, Seoul, on April 21 to condemn a ruling that they say unjustly narrowed the scope of illegal dispatch. [YONHAP]
Public distrust in Korea’s criminal justice system has deepened sharply, according to the latest findings from the Korea Legislation Research Institute, a government-funded think tank under the prime minister's office. The institute has conducted a nationwide survey on public legal awareness every two years since 1991. Its 2025 report, based on a survey of 3,400 households conducted between July and September last year and released on Law Day, April 25, shows a notable decline in confidence in investigations and trials over the past two years.
The most striking shift concerns perceptions of fairness. The share of respondents who said the law is enforced fairly fell from 52.9 percent in 2023 to 41.1 percent in 2025. Similarly, those who believed all citizens receive fair trials declined from 70.6 percent to 62.2 percent. These figures suggest that public trust in both law enforcement and judicial proceedings has weakened considerably.
Distrust is also evident in views on criminal justice procedures. The proportion of respondents who agreed that criminals receive appropriate punishment dropped from 66.7 percent to 54.9 percent. Confidence in the fairness of detention decisions, including whether suspects are investigated in custody or without detention, declined from 58.3 percent to 41.5 percent. Complaints about delays in handling criminal cases have also grown. The share of respondents who viewed the processing of criminal cases as prompt and efficient fell from 64.0 percent to 52.1 percent, reflecting dissatisfaction following the redistribution of investigative authority between police and prosecutors since 2021.
Some political actors have cited such findings to justify further prosecutorial reforms. However, interpreting the results solely in that direction risks oversimplification. The survey also found that only 37.1 percent of respondents believe the National Assembly adequately reflects public opinion in its legislative deliberations, down from 54.3 percent in 2023. This suggests that the legislature itself faces a credibility challenge.
Meanwhile, structural changes to the prosecutorial system, including plans to abolish the prosecution service under revisions to the Government Organization Act, have added to uncertainty. Confusion at the operational level has not been fully resolved. Delays in case handling by both police and prosecutors have fueled dissatisfaction among those involved, while pressure on judges over trial outcomes has intensified, sometimes extending to personal attacks. Such developments were rarely seen in the past.
The decline in public trust over the past two years should not be taken lightly. A functioning justice system requires that offenders be punished according to the law and that victims receive timely remedies. The growing perception that this is not the case signals a serious warning. Policymakers should recognize the urgency of the issue and consider measures, including revisions to the Criminal Procedure Act, to restore confidence in the system.
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
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