Supreme Court of Korea

Supreme Court of Korea
대한민국 대법원
Symbol of the Supreme Court of Korea
Supreme Court of Korea in Seocho-gu, Seoul
Established1948 (1948)
LocationSeocho, Seoul
Composition methodAppointed by President with consent of National Assembly
(for associate Justices, nomination of Chief Justice is additionally required)
Authorised byConstitution of South Korea Chapter V
Judge term lengthSix years, renewable
(mandatory retirement at the age of 70)
Number of positions30 (by statute)
Websitescourt.go.kr
Chief Justice
CurrentlyJo Hee-de
Since8 December 2023 (2023-12-08)
Supreme Court of Korea
Emblem of ordinary Courts of Korea
Korean name
Hangul
대법원
Hanja
大法院
RRDaebeobwon
MRTaebŏbwŏn

The Supreme Court of Korea (Korean: 대법원; Hanja: 大法院) is the highest ordinary court in the judicial branch of South Korea, seated in Seocho, Seoul. Established under Chapter 5 of the Constitution of South Korea, the court has ultimate and comprehensive jurisdiction over all cases except those falling under the jurisdiction of the Constitutional Court of Korea. It consists of 14 justices, including the chief justice of the Supreme Court of Korea. In 2025, President Lee Jae-myung added 16 more seats to the court. The Supreme Court sits atop all ordinary courts in South Korea and has traditionally represented the conventional judiciary of South Korea. The Supreme Court of Korea is one of the two apex courts in South Korea, the other being the Constitutional Court of Korea.