Chairperson's Foreword No one would deny that human rights are dignified values that merit protection. Violations of human rights, however, occur before one is even aware that it has happened, because it is believed that the protection of human rights are not related to “me” personally, but are something meaningful only for the socially vulnerable and minorities elsewhere. Human rights are a means for protecting and realizing the dignity and value of every human being. For this reason, they are precious values that must be protected in our daily lives, not only for the socially vulnerable but for all of us as. We are well aware that the values that we neglect to protect even for ourselves will never be protected by others. Our human rights sometimes come under new threats due to rapid changes in the social environment. This is why the National Human Rights Commission of the Republic of Korea (NHRCK) should not be complacent, and rather must continue its efforts to keep track of and study international human rights issues. In 2012, the NHRCK faithfully undertook its traditional duties while at the same time deal with newly raised human rights issues such as business and human rights, and Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) and human rights. Moreover, the Commission exerted systematic efforts to improve North Korean human rights. This annual report is to provide information on the major achievements that the NHRCK has obtained throughout the year while fulfilling its responsibilities for such