Citizen Action to Restore Judicial Trust: The Meaning and How to Participate in the Supreme Court Log Record Disclosure Petition

Recently, the issue of trust in the judiciary has become a hot potato in our society. In particular, the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn and remand the case of Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, for violating the Public Official Election Act, in just 9 days, has led to an explosive increase in citizens’ doubts and distrust. Could the Supreme Court justices have properly reviewed the vast litigation records of over 60,000 pages in such a short period? The ‘Supreme Court Log Record Disclosure Petition Movement,’ which began with these doubts, is becoming a powerful voice of citizens demanding judicial justice and transparency. We will examine the background and significance of this phenomenon.Let’s examine the background and significance of this phenomenon together.

The Wave of Judicial Distrust Caused by Ultra-Fast Verdicts

On May 1, 2025, the Supreme Court ruled to overturn and remand the case of candidate Lee Jae-myung for violating the Public Official Election Act. Typically, Supreme Court en banc decisions take several months to even years, but this case was concluded in just 9 days after being referred to the en banc session. Even more surprising is the fact that the litigation records to be reviewed amount to a staggering 60,000 pages.

The legal community is criticizing it as “a physically impossible speed, requiring review of one page every six seconds.” Professor Emeritus Han In-sup of Seoul National University Law School criticized, “They didn’t even have time to read the litigation records, nor the opportunity for intense internal debate on differing opinions, and just pushed it through with a majority vote. It’s incomprehensible.” These criticisms have The Supreme Court’s Verdict Processfurther fueled doubts about.

Citizens’ Response: The Spread of Demands for Log Record Disclosure

In response, citizens began demanding the ‘disclosure of log records’ to verify how much the Supreme Court justices actually reviewed the litigation records. Log records are data containing traces of Supreme Court justices accessing litigation records through the electronic document system, and they contain information about who accessed which documents and for how long.

The citizens’ anger and interest spread rapidly, leading to the ‘One Million Signature Campaign to Denounce Chief Justice Cho Hee-il’s Judicial Misconduct,’ which, astonishingly, surpassed one million signatures in just two days. This can be seen as a stark example of the depth of public distrust in the judiciary. This phenomenonreflects the citizens’ yearning for judicial justice, which has become more sensitive since the past judicial misconduct incidents.

The Importance and Meaning of Disclosing Log Records

The disclosure of Supreme Court log records goes beyond merely verifying the trial process of a single case; it serves as a crucial test for confirming the independence and fairness of the judiciary. Especially at a time when concerns are raised that Supreme Court rulings could exert political influence ahead of the presidential election, the disclosure of log records can be an important process for restoring trust in the judiciary.

Legally, according to the Information Disclosure Act, information requested by the public must be disclosed unless it falls under non-disclosure reasons. Such demands to enhance the transparency and accountability of the judiciary are a natural right and duty of citizens in a democratic society.

The Log Record Disclosure Petition Movement: How Can You Participate?

Citizens can participate in the log record disclosure in two main ways.

1. Participate in the Million Signature Campaign

Anyone can participate in the ongoing ‘One Million Signature Campaign for the Disclosure of Supreme Court Log Records’ through Google Forms. However, caution is advised regarding personal information protection, and direct information requests are recommended over the method below.

2. Make a Direct Information Request

It is also possible to personally request the disclosure of log records from the Supreme Court through an information request. Many citizens are already using this method to request information disclosure, and as of May 4, 2025, approximately 25,000 information requests have been received. Supreme Court Judicial Information Disclosure PortalYou can access the portal, log in after real-name verification, and fill out the information request form.

When making a request, you can refer to the following details:

• Title: “Request for Disclosure of Log Records for Case 2025do4697”
• Content: “In case 2025do4697, the Supreme Court justices stated that they electronically accessed approximately 70,000 pages of records. Therefore, I request the disclosure of the following information:
  1. All electronic record access logs: including accessors, dates and times, scope of documents accessed, number of pages, etc.
  2. Enforcement officer’s service details: including the requester of service, documents served, reason for service, date and time, circumstances, etc.
  This information is subject to disclosure under Article 3 of the Information Disclosure Act and does not fall under the non-disclosure reasons in Article 9.”

Spread of the Signature Campaign and Social Impact

The demand for the disclosure of Supreme Court log records has expanded beyond a mere signature campaign to include additional citizen actions such as rallies. Rallies have been held around the Supreme Court in Seocho-dong, Seoul, with citizens holding signs that read ‘The Judiciary is Dead’ and ‘Stop Interfering with the Presidential Election.’

The Democratic Party of Korea is demanding a parliamentary audit, hearing, and special prosecutor investigation into the Chief Justice, indicating that this issue will continue to be discussed in political circles. Such social pressure can encourage the judiciary to act more transparently and responsibly regarding their decisions and processes.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is my personal information protected when I participate in the signature campaign?

The signature campaign is primarily conducted through Google Forms, so Google’s personal information protection policy applies. While the organizers of the campaign have stated that the collected personal information will not be used for purposes other than the signature campaign, it is always advisable to be cautious about providing personal information when participating online.

If I make an information request, when can I expect to know the result?

According to the Information Disclosure Act, public institutions must decide whether to disclose information within 10 days of receiving the request. However, given the current situation of a large volume of requests, processing delays are expected.

What happens if the log records are not disclosed?

The organizers of the signature campaign have stated that if the Supreme Court does not take satisfactory measures for information disclosure, they will proceed with further actions such as rallies in front of the Supreme Court. Furthermore, it is highly likely that political circles will continue to raise this issue.

The Importance of Citizen Participation for Democracy and Judicial Justice

The Supreme Court log record disclosure petition movement can be seen as a proactive movement by citizens to protect the independence and fairness of the judiciary, and the democratic values of our society, going beyond a mere protest. These citizen actionsserve as an important process to remind the judiciary that it is an institution that realizes justice for the people, by the people.

Information disclosure is an important process that enhances the transparency of the judiciary and guarantees the public’s right to know. Especially at this critical juncture before the presidential election, when concerns exist that Supreme Court rulings could be politically influenced, verifying that all processes were conducted fairly and transparently is a natural right and duty of citizens in a democratic society.

The subsequent response from political circles and civil society will vary depending on whether and what the Supreme Court discloses regarding its log records, and this will serve as an opportunity for our society’s democracy and judicial justice to take another step forward. For interested citizens, participating in the signature campaign or making an information request can be a meaningful way to engage as a citizen.