KEI Spotlight

Writing for the Diplomat, KEI Senior Director Troy Stangarone provides an overview of the ongoing scandal in the South Korean Supreme Court, which threatens to further undermine public trust in the judiciary branch. The scandal revolves around allegations that Supreme Court Chief Justice Yang Sung-tae worked to influence politically senstive trials to gain influence with the Blue House during the Park Geun-hye adminsitration.

Although the Court's upholding of President Park's impeachment in early 2017 was met with public approval, recent cases – particularly the early release of Samsung Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong – had soured perceptions around the fairness of the court system. Stangarone spotlights polling prior to the current, ongoing scandal that showed that the South Korean public lacked faith in the court system. As such, the ongoing invesitgation into the allegations around Yang may have wider implications for how President Moon may approach reforms in the system.

You can find the article in the link here