Newsroom, December 23, 2025: South Korea's National Assembly approved legislation requiring specialised three-judge panels in Seoul's district and high courts to handle rebellion, treason, and foreign subversion cases.
The measure, passed with 175 votes in favour and minimal opposition after a conservative filibuster and boycott, responds to criticism over slow progress in former president Yoon Suk Yeol's trial. Yoon, removed from office in April following his brief martial law declaration in December 2024, faces charges punishable by life imprisonment or death.
Amendments ensure the law takes immediate effect but skips Yoon's current proceedings, expected to reach a verdict early next year. Liberals pushed for faster judicial processes, while conservatives warned of threats to independence. President Lee Jae Myung is likely to sign it.
