Annual Report 2013 or older to take on military duties and public offices. In other words, other statutes already have those aged 18 or above take part in the formation of the nation and society. It is, therefore, unreasonable to judge that only those persons aged 19 or older have independent cognition or judgment. Fourth, as of 2011, about 92.7% or 215 of 232 countries of the world stipulate the minimum age of voting to be 18. In short, the world trend is that more than 90% of the countries set age 18 as the minimum age of voting. In addition, the Commission concluded that an option to have different age standards depending on purposes should be considered. For instance, in case of electing superintendents of education offices, although most of the youth are influenced to a great degree in education policy and school management the responsibility of which rests with superintendents, the youth cannot take part in their elections. The youth have the right of being respected as the citizens of the nation. It is also reasonable to think that social participation of the youth will encourage them to develop into sound grown-ups. It is, therefore, meaningful to go over the lowering of the voting age for the elections of superintendents. Another aspect the Commission reviewed was that the character of joining political parties or political activities is different from that of voting right. It is, therefore, advisable to separate the age of accession to political parties, or age 19, from voting age for making it lower than general voting age. The Commission, in conclusion, expressed its opinion: it is congruent with the principle of democracy to make the age 64 ▪▪▪ Part II. Major Activities of the Commission