Korean Justice Outlines AI Courtroom, From Case Analysis to Draft Rulings
South Korea's Supreme Court Justice Lee Sook-yeon presented a vision for AI-powered courtrooms at the 20th Conference of Chief Justices of Asia and the Pacific. The system would analyze cases, summarize facts, link evidence, and draft rulings. It would also identify relevant sentencing factors and calculate recommended ranges. The judiciary is already piloting an AI system handling over 2,000 queries daily, with plans to expand functions by 2028.
Justice Lee Sook-yeon's vision for AI in Korean courtrooms goes beyond basic legal research. The plan includes AI drafting rulings and calculating sentencing ranges. This moves AI from a passive tool to an active participant in judicial processes, though human judges retain final authority. The judiciary's current pilot system processes more than 2,000 queries a day, showing existing operational scale.
The push for a homegrown AI system is critical for South Korea. Lee explicitly warns against foreign AI models due to data protection, trade secrets, and state secrets. This reflects a broader Asian concern about AI sovereignty and judicial independence. South Korea's 10.3 billion won budget for its intelligent platform confirms this commitment to domestic development.
The key test for this initiative is the rollout of the intelligent platform for AI-based criminal trials. Phase one launches in October next year. Its performance and user feedback will determine the pace of wider adoption and whether the 2028 expansion targets are met. Bias and hallucination risks remain the primary concern for any such system.
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