The Korean Supreme Court has recently announced changes to the rules of civil procedure, which are applicable to all civil case briefs filed on or after August 1, 2016 (including in pending cases). The amendments include new rules regarding standard paper size, margins, line spacing, and font size. One noteworthy change in these amendments includes a page limit (to 30 pages) on briefs for district court and appellate court cases.
Under the new rules, unless otherwise agreed by the parties and approved by the court, the court may order any nonconforming brief to be corrected and re-submitted by the filing party in a format that conforms to these rules. In setting the maximum page limit, the new rules also provide that briefs should not repeat what has been previously submitted.
The new rules are intended to help courts review cases more efficiently, while placing greater emphasis on effective advocacy. As the new rules take effect, how strictly the rules are applied may vary somewhat, depending on the complexity of the case and the court panel. This change will require all parties in civil litigation to make extra effort to assess whether their main arguments are being presented in the most concise and persuasive manner possible.
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