National Human Rights Commission of the Republic of Korea Chapter 4. Evaluation and Challenges As the final year of the third phase of the Three-Year Plan for the Promotion of Human Rights (2012~2014), the Commission made the final review of the achievements of the five strategic goals and endeavored to complete the projects successfully in 2014. First of all, the Commission took various measures to protect the human rights of socially vulnerable groups by conducting research studies into the current human rights situation and submitting recommendations to revise relevant legislation and regulations based on these research results. Also, it has continued to proactively respond to important human rights issues such as the tragic Sewol Ferry incident and the fire in a long-term care hospital for the elderly in Jangseong. In addition, with the 2014 ASEM Summit’s officially adopting ASEM Conference on Global Ageing and Human Rights of Older Persons, the NHRCK gained important momentum to proactively examine policy improvements and create a cooperative network with the international community regarding human rights of the elderly in an aging society. It also continued to fulfil its mandate to protect human rights by sector, for example by closely monitoring whether the rights to vote of persons with disabilities were guaranteed, in particular in the advance voting system which was first introduced in the 6th local elections and preparing measures for improvement. The presentation of the result of its investigation on the human rights violations in a facility for persons with disabilities in Dobong-gu in March presented an opportunity for the Commission to bring about positive social changes by leading to comprehensive inspections in all group care facilities for persons with disabilities in the entire country. On the other hand, the Commission has contributed to the promotion of the citizens’ Introduction ▪▪▪ 21