S. Korea's criminal courts going paperless

A bill that requires e-documents to be used in South Korea's criminal judicial procedures had passed the National Assembly’s plenary session, the Ministry of Justice announced.

The new legislation gives e-documents the same standing as paper documents in the criminal justice process.

Law enforcement agencies would be required to write and exchange e-documents using e-signatures during the investigation and trial procedures.

Meanwhile, paper documents submitted by the parties would be digitalized through scanning.

Thus, it is expected that paper documents would no longer be necessary in the investigation and trial of criminal cases by 2024.

Accordingly, it will become easier for defendants and lawyers to read and print evidence records from electronic devices such as computers.

Unlike patents, and civil and administrative litigation that have already been digitalized, criminal litigation and investigations are still relying on paper documents.