The Constitutional Court was established in September, 1988 by the current Constitution, which followed after the people's successful movement for democracy in 1987.
The Framers of the Constitution adopted, in addition to the Supreme Court, a new independently specialized court, based on the European Model, in order to fully protect the people's fundamental rights and effectively check governmental powers. The functions of the Constitutional Court include deciding on the Constitutionality of Laws, ruling on Competence Disputes between governmental entities, adjudicating Constitutional Complaints filed by individuals, giving final decisions on Impeachments, and making judgments on Dissolution of Political Parties.
There are nine Justices who serve a six-year renewable term. The Court is housed in a five-story domed, architectural award-winning building in Seoul.