Artificial intelligence is creating a growing challenge for South Korea's judicial system, as a new Supreme Court survey reveals that approximately 80% of judges handling civil, family and administrative cases have encountered fabricated or nonexistent legal precedents cited in court proceedings.
The survey, which collected responses from 360 judges between October 6 and 16, found that 80.7% had encountered citations of nonexistent court rulings, while 65.4% had come across fabricated legal precedents.
The findings also revealed that misleading AI-generated legal references appeared in documents submitted by both individuals and legal professionals, including lawyers.
In response, 91.7% of surveyed judges supported introducing institutional measures to address the issue. Proposed measures include mandatory verification of cited legal precedents, potential fines and disciplinary action against lawyers who repeatedly submit fabricated information.
The findings highlight the growing risks of AI hallucinations in professional environments and raise important questions about accountability, accuracy and the responsible use of artificial intelligence in the justice system.
SOURCE & ATTRIBUTION DISCLAIMER
This report is based on original reporting by The Korea Herald, published on November 2, 2026, by Yonhap News Agency, alongside findings released by South Korea's Supreme Court.
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