The passage of a new law mandating dedicated court panels for insurrection-related crimes has thrust Korea into a complex legal debate, as critics and government officials alike weigh whether the special tribunal violates the fundamental principles of the country’s judiciary. Under the law, known as the Special Act on Criminal Procedures for Insurrection, Foreign Aggression and Rebellion Crimes, at least two specialized panels must be established at the Seoul Central District Court and the Seoul High Court to hear cases related to former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s imposition of martial law on Dec. 3, 2024. The legislation was passed despite repeated objections raised during parliamentary deliberations. Critics note that the Constitution allows only military courts as a special exception, a provision they say the insurrection tribunal may run up against. Article 101 vests judicial power exclusively in courts composed of judges, while permitting military courts as an explicit exception. Opponents contend that creating a tribunal through legislation to hear a specific category of cases