A remote hearing on a criminal case takes place for the first time at Seoul High Court in Seoul on Dec. 28, 2021, amid the pandemic, connecting the court with a detention center. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Aug. 30 (Korea Bizwire) — South Koreans living in remote areas such as on islands will now be able to give testimony on a remote basis without directly participating in court trials.
Lee Eun-joo, a judge at the Incheon District Court, will remotely interrogate an individual living on Baengnyeong Island near the inter-Korean western sea border who is a witness in a fraud case on Sept. 23, according to the Supreme Court.
The resident will give testimony in real time through a relay facility installed at the Baengnyeong district office.
Without the remote video link, this resident would have to travel by ship for four hours to go to Incheon from South Korea’s northernmost island, and then take the ship again to get back to the island after testifying.
If the ship’s operation is canceled due to inclement weather, a somewhat frequent occurrence, the trial could be delayed or the witness would not be able to return home immediately after testifying.
Thanks to last year’s revision of the criminal procedure act towards expanding the scope of video trials, the Administrative Office of the Supreme Court has installed relay facilities at public offices and supported the video testimony of witnesses.
J. S. Shin (js_shin@koreabizwire.com)
