Constitutional Court of Korea

The Constitutional Court has rapporteur judges, the number of whom is specified in the Constitutional Court Act. They are engaged in investigation and research concerning the deliberation and adjudication of cases under the order of the Court President to assist and support Justices’ case works. However, the President may appoint them to a position that does not entail investigation and research for the deliberation and adjudication of cases or have them hold that position in addition to the rapporteur judgeship.

Rapporteur judges are appointed by the President of the Constitutional Court based on a decision made by the Council of Justices from those falling under any of the following categories:
a person who is qualified as a judge, prosecutor, or attorney-at-law;
a person who has been in a position equal to or higher than an assistant professor of law in an accredited college or university;
a person who has been engaged in legal affairs for five or more years as a public official of Grade IV or higher in state agencies such as the National Assembly, the Executive, or ordinary courts;
a person who has obtained a doctorate in law and engaged in legal affairs for five or more years in state agencies such as the National Assembly, the Executive, ordinary courts, or the Constitutional Court;
and, a person who has obtained a doctorate in law and engaged in legal affairs for five or more years in accredited research institutes such as a college or university as stipulated by the Constitutional Court Act.

The rapporteur judges may serve renewable terms of 10 years and shall retire at the age of 60. A newly appointed rapporteur judge shall serve assistant rapporteur judgeship for three years as a special public official before being appointed as a rapporteur judge in consideration of their performance during the period.

The rapporteur judges are divided into two groups. One consists of those who are assigned to Justices and are responsible for preliminary review of constitutional complaints and also cases allocated to the full bench. The other is composed of those not assigned to Justices and are separated into sub-groups of specialized fields.