관련재판적과 관할선택권의 남용

Forum for related claims and abuse of right to choose jurisdiction

Under the Korean Code of Civil Procedure(“KCCP”), forum for related claim is admitted in case of joint litigation, though agreement on exclusive jurisdiction was concluded between some of joint litigants. In Consideration of broad legal jurisdiction as stated above, it is necessary to limit the plaintiff’s right to choose jurisdiction. Recently the Supreme Court of Korea for the first time held that the right to choose jurisdiction may be limited in accordance with good faith principle, which is applied to Civil Procedure Rule. Namely, if it is apparent that the plaintiff brings a lawsuit attaching to another lawsuit for the purpose of occurring forum for related claim, then the regulations on forum for related claim should not be applied in account of abuse of the right to choose jurisdiction. This principle is appropriate to prevent unfair development of jurisdiction and to protect defendant’s benefit of jurisdiction. However, as good faith principle is general clause, it is more adequate to consider transfer of lawsuit to avoid prominent damage or delay pursuant to the Article 35 of the KCCP. Also in the case of above decision by the Supreme Court of Korea, it is permitted to transfer the case to avoid prominent damage or delay.