Participants in Seoul court riot must pay W1.1b as Supreme Court files civil suit

The Supreme Court has filed a civil damages lawsuit seeking 1.1 billion won ($795,000) from participants in last year's riot at the Seoul Western District Court, aiming to recover repair costs from those whose criminal convictions have been finalized.

The Supreme Court said Wednesday it had filed suit against five individuals whose guilty verdicts in the riot case are now final, seeking 1.18 billion won plus delay damages. The lawsuit was filed that day at the Seoul Central District Court, with the Republic of Korea as plaintiff and the Court Administration Office as the responsible agency. The Supreme Court said the case was brought after a preliminary legal review by its litigation support center, which handles state lawsuits related to the courts.

The riot broke out on Jan. 19, 2025, after a court issued an arrest warrant for former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was under investigation in connection with the Dec. 3 emergency martial law incident. Some of Yoon's supporters stormed the Seoul Western District Court building in Mapo-gu and went on a rampage, smashing furniture and equipment. The courthouse sustained severe damage — windows, doors and exterior walls were destroyed, along with office furnishings and computer systems inside. Court civil servants suffered serious psychological trauma in the process, the Supreme Court said.

The Supreme Court described the riot as "a collective act of violence and destruction targeting a courthouse where the state's judicial functions are carried out," adding that it went "far beyond simple property damage or acts of violence" and "gravely undermined the function and authority of the courts, the last line of defense for the protection of citizens' fundamental rights and the rule of law."

The court went on to say the incident "disrupted constitutional order, directly threatened the independence of the judiciary, and shook the very foundations of the rule of law and democracy," stressing that "holding those who participated in the riot to strict legal account is absolutely necessary."

In addition, the Supreme Court said it "will continue to respond resolutely to any acts that unjustly infringe upon the rule of law and the functions of the judiciary, making every effort to ensure that the essential functions of justice are fully maintained as the last bastion protecting the fundamental rights of the people."