Summary Trial Procedure

A district court, a branch court, or a municipal court may hear minor offenses which may be punishable with a fine not exceeding 200,000 KRW or detention for less than 30 days following summary trial procedure. The minor offenses include violation of Road Traffic Act, a Punishment of Minor Offenses Act, etc. The chief of the competent police station, not a public prosecutor, is entitled to bring a case before the judge. If a judge deems that a case is inadequate for summary trial, the judge is to dismiss the case. After the dismissal, the chief of the police station needs to take the case to the District Public Prosecutor's Office without delay. Either the accused or the chief of a police station is dissatisfied with the judgment, they may apply for formal trial within seven days from the date the judgment is rendered. When a judgment of summary trial becomes final and conclusive, it has the same effect as a final and conclusive judgment under regular trial proceedings.