Mediation requests may be submitted at any time before the Commission makes its final deliberation and decision, including at the time the petition is submitted or during the ensuing investigation. Mediation seeks to help both parties concerned reach a voluntary agreement and settle their dispute for cases either referred by the consent of both parties concerned or by the authority of the Commission. This system was introduced to expedite resolutions, reduce costs, and enhance the effectiveness of related remedies. An established mediation and any decision that substitutes a mediation1) are equivalent to a conciliation resolution settled in court. Secretariat As of December 2018, the Commission's Secretariat consists of the Secretary General, four public officials in general service, four bureaus, 16 divisions, two teams, and five affiliated institutions. The maximum number of personnel is 220, including 178 in the head office (including four public officials in general service) and 42 in the affiliated institutions. In 2018, one bureau, two divisions, and one team were newly added to the Commission's organization. The Investigation Bureau was divided into the Civil and Political Rights Bureau and the Discrimination Remedy Bureau, while the Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Division, Armed Forces Human Rights Investigation Division, and Gender Discrimination Remedy Division were also established to reinforce the Commission's functions in those respective fields. In early 2019, the temporary Planning Group for Response to Hatred and Discrimination (January) and Special Investigation Group for Athletes' Human Rights (February) were launched. 1) Article 42 (Mediation by Conciliation Committee) of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea Act (2) Mediation shall be completed at the time when, after the procedures therefor are initiated, both parties state the compromised matters in mediation documents and sign and seal such documents and when the competent Conciliation Committee, in turn, ascertains no flaws in those documents. (5) If a Conciliation Committee makes a decision in lieu of conciliation, it shall serve both parties with the written decision without delay. (6) If any concerned party fails to file a complaint within 14 days after he/she has been served with a written decision under Paragraph 5, he/she shall be deemed to have accepted the mediation. 12 Introduction