The New York Times says South Korea seems to have adopted a jury trial system with little public preparation.

The report said Thursday that after about 20 mock trials in the second half of 2007, the first real trial with a jury took place in February.

However, the daily said many are confused with the new system, including judges and lawyers, who are not used to explaining their actions to the public.

By American standards, the report said the pace of the new style of South Korean justice can be “breathtaking.”

It cited that so far, nearly all the jury trials have been concluded within a day, from jury selection in the morning, to the lawyers’ presentations in the afternoon, to jury deliberations in the evening. The jurors, usually five to nine people, are told that if they cannot reach a unanimous verdict within an hour or so, they must consult the judge for guidance.

Judicial officials defend the fast pace by saying that interviews show this is what jurors prefer in a country where missing a day of work is almost unthinkable.

The report also cited that many who receive summons to court are not aware of what they are obligated to do.