Bill to Establish Maritime Specialized Court in Incheon Passes Judiciary Subcommittee

by Park Haesook

Published 03 Feb.2026 15:29(KST)

A bill calling for the establishment of a Maritime Specialized Court in Incheon has passed its first hurdle in the National Assembly.

On the 3rd, the Legislation and Judiciary Committee of the National Assembly held its first Subcommittee on Bill Review and approved the "Amendment to the Court Organization Act and the Act on the Establishment and Jurisdiction of Various Levels of Courts."

The amendment includes provisions to establish a specialized court dedicated to maritime cases, which refer to maritime-related disputes such as marine transportation, ship contracts, and ship accidents, and to stipulate the locations and jurisdictions of courts in Incheon and Busan, among other details.

With the bill passing the subcommittee on this day, only approval by the full session of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee and the plenary session of the National Assembly remains, bringing the establishment of the Maritime Specialized Court in Incheon one step closer.

The bill to establish a Maritime Specialized Court had been introduced in both the 20th and 21st National Assemblies, but it repeatedly failed due to being held in committee and the expiration of the terms. However, in the current 22nd National Assembly, Incheon-based lawmakers Yoon Sanghyun, Jung Ilyoung, Park Chan-dae, and Bae Junyoung each sponsored the bill in succession, and a total of 32 lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties joined as co-sponsors, creating the momentum for subcommittee passage through bipartisan cooperation.

In particular, during the bill review process in July last year, the ruling and opposition parties agreed not only to include maritime cases but also to expand the court's jurisdiction to international commercial disputes, and to establish main branches of the Maritime and International Commercial Court in both Incheon and Busan. Subsequently, differences of opinion between the National Court Administration and the Ministry of Justice, including whether international commercial cases should fall under the court’s exclusive jurisdiction, were smoothly reconciled, enabling the bill to pass the subcommittee this time.

Performing at a citywide rally urging that the Maritime Specialized Court be located in Incheon. May 4, 2023. Photo provided by Incheon City.

Incheon City has been working in cooperation with the "Citizens' Coalition for Attracting the Maritime Specialized Court to Incheon," which is composed of the Incheon Bar Association, the port industry, and others, making numerous visits to relevant institutions such as the National Court Administration and the National Assembly, and responding actively throughout the bill’s introduction and review process.

In addition, support from civil society has been expanding through National Assembly debates, a citywide relay of public declarations of support, and a signature campaign involving 1 million citizens, while various sectors including the shipping and logistics industries, the legal community, and academia are joining forces to sustain the momentum for attracting the court.

An official from Incheon City stated, "With both an international airport and seaport, Incheon is capable of responding swiftly and effectively to disputes with neighboring countries such as China when maritime conflicts arise," adding, "The conditions Incheon offers as a global maritime city, with such accessibility and expertise, are regarded as optimal for hosting a Maritime Specialized Court focused on international cases."