About 170 judges across the country submitted a letter to the Supreme Court on Friday, urging the judicature to start a legal review of the controversial Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement.

“We hereby ask the chief of the Supreme Court to permit the establishment of a taskforce to examine whether the trade agreement infringes on Korea’s judicial sovereignty,” wrote the letter directed to Supreme Court Chief Justice Yang Sung-tae.

A total of 170 judges have signed the letter, including 10 senior-level judges.

Judge Kim Ha-neul of Incheon District Court, who initiated the movement to officially propose a judicial study of the FTA, led its writing.

Some clauses in the treaty deserve a thorough study by the judicial authority, the letter pointed out, citing the investor-state dispute settlement system as one example.

Public opinion is sharply divided over the deal, which was ratified by the National Assembly last month.

While open-market proponents claim the pact would offer a much-needed boost for the Korean economy, opponents argue it is biased against Koreans and would hurt local industries.

By Lee Sun-young (milaya@heraldcorp.com)