Back-
ACRC Chairperson Un-Jong PAK
Pak Un Jong took office as the new Chairperson of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC) on June 28 at the Government Complex Sejong.
Chairperson Pak is a legal expert who has earned a Doctorate of Law from the University of Freiburg, Germany. She has been engaged in various civil society activities, and recently served as the chairman of the Korea Human Rights Foundation and as a professor at Seoul National University School of Law.
In her inaugural speech, Chairperson Pak professed that “The most significant issue in our society is unfairness. Above all, a call for integrity and morality in public office is higher than ever.”
“Recently, our society has had opportunities to reflect ourselves as a whole.” Pak recalled. “One of the valuable lessons we have learned is that when corruption is overlooked, whether in the private sector or in the public sector, it is impossible to look forward to realizing fundamentally integrated society. It goes without saying to improve efficiency in government administration, or to facilitate economic development.
“People’s strong support for the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act shows their intense desire for a fair and transparent society.”
She stressed that “The ACRC, which meets citizens at the forefront, must work as a control tower of anti-corruption policies.”
“We must look back ourselves whether we were buried in legal logic, whether we were satisfied with the conventional work process, or whether we were occupied with a winning rate of administrative authority. The ACRC investigators must look at laws not only with a microscope, but also with a telescope, ultimately reading both the expectations of citizens and of society as a whole.”
Chairperson also highlighted that “Protection of public whistleblowers must be further strengthened and implemented at an institutional level.” Adding that “It is increasingly important for us to play role as public defender, and share the pains of the public whistleblowers until the very end.”
Source: Anti-Corruption & Civil Rights Commission (ACRC), Republic of Korea
