The Supreme Court said Monday that it would consider establishing a drug court that orders nonviolent offenders with drug-related charges, alcohol addictions and mental disorders to participate in an intensive treatment course.

The envisioned court will be a special judiciary unit that puts offenders in rehabilitation programs rather than prison.

Countries including the U.S. and Australia have been operating similar systems as part of efforts to curb drug use. The program in the U.S., for instance, usually deals with nonviolent offenders charged with minor offenses, such as drug possession or drunk driving. Those who complete the U.S. court’s treatment program are dismissed of drug charges, or get shortened or suspended sentences.

The drug court plan will be reviewed by an advisory panel on judicial reform starting next month, the Supreme Court said. The panel, consisting of seven members, delivers a variety of ideas to the Supreme Court chief and appraises reform plans devised by the court itself.

“(We) have listed a few agenda items on judicial reform that draw the public’s attention and that have an urgent need to be improved. It will start reviewing them as soon as Chief Justice Yang Seung-tae names the new members of the committee,” a court official said. The chief justice chooses committee member replacements every two years.

Previously, the committee had contributed to establishing a lifelong system to prohibit judges from practicing law after leaving the bench. The panel also suggested implementing a unified legal career system that allows experienced lawyers and prosecutors to be named as judges.

The committee next month will also review other reform measures such as setting up special courts on bankruptcy and labor issues.

The panel will discuss a plan to expand the role of bankruptcy units currently under regional courts, officials said. The plan aims to establish a bankruptcy court in Seoul and later install more of the special courts in other cities, if necessary.

Setting up a labor court that deals exclusively with labor disputes will also be discussed at the committee. Currently, those who are involved in labor disputes first file their complaints at a local labor relations commission, and then go through trials at administrative courts. Labor unions have been urging the Supreme Court to launch labor courts to simplify the process.

By Cho Chung-un (christory@heraldcorp.com)