Baek Hyeryun Announces Candidacy for Democratic Party Supreme Council Member: "Irreversible Prosecution Reform Through National Consensus"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Cheol-eung] Baek Hye-ryun, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, announced her candidacy for the party's Supreme Council member election on the 15th. She represents the Suwon region in Gyeonggi Province and is a re-elected lawmaker following her first term in her 20s. She currently serves as the ruling party's secretary on the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee.

On this day, Baek emphasized in her declaration, "We must know how to listen to 'bitter criticism.' The beginning of innovation must start with hearing bitter criticism," adding, "To enhance the ruling party's responsibility and stability and to achieve regime re-creation, this attitude is absolutely necessary."

She put forward the slogan of ‘Reform that wins with the people’s livelihood at the center and with public sentiment.’ Baek stated, "I will be a ‘rational balancing force’ for the successful conclusion of the Moon Jae-in administration and the re-creation of the regime," and added, "If I become a Supreme Council member, I will first propose and promote a ‘Weekly On-site Supreme Council Meeting.’"

She also pledged to regularize joint on-site inspection meetings involving metropolitan and provincial governors, metropolitan and provincial council members, as well as heads and council members of basic local governments. Additionally, she promised to establish a ‘Permanent Meeting Body among the Party, Government, and Blue House’ and to apply a zero-tolerance principle toward unfair practices that violate fairness and justice among party members, diagnosing this as a reason for the Democratic Party’s loss of trust.

Baek stressed, "There is a legal maxim that 'Delayed justice is not justice,'" and said, "We cannot speak of fairness and justice while tolerating unfair practices that violate fairness and justice within the party."

She also reflected on her past work: "During the impeachment crisis, I uncovered the links between Park Geun-hye, Choi Soon-sil, and the Mir Foundation, as well as the suspicions of organized evidence destruction by Park Geun-hye’s Blue House." "As the ruling party’s first spokesperson, I became a communication link between the government, the ruling party, and the people." "As the secretary of the Special Committee on Judicial Reform, I drafted the blueprint for prosecutorial reform, including the representative bill for the establishment of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO)." "I confronted opposition party’s legislative obstruction through the first-ever electronic bill submission in constitutional history and achieved the establishment of the CIO and the adjustment of investigative authority between the prosecution and police," she self-evaluated.

In a meeting with reporters regarding prosecutorial reform, Baek said, "We face the task of separating investigation and prosecution," and added, "I believe efforts agreed upon with the public are necessary. Through such processes, we will ensure that the reform becomes irreversible."

Regarding former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, she said, "I do not think the defeat in the by-election was due to Cho Kuk or prosecutorial reform," but also acknowledged, "It cannot be denied that the point at which issues began to arise was partly due to the Cho Kuk case. I believe reflection on that part is necessary to listen to various opinions and to regain the lost public sentiment."