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Courtesy Meeting with the Head of the FAO Partnership and Liaison Office (PLO) in the Republic of Korea
Director General for Planning and Coordination, Yang Soonpil, held a meeting on Wednesday, February 11, with Mr. Tang Shengyao, Head of the FAO Partnership and Liaison Office (PLO) in the Republic of Korea, to discuss measures for mutual cooperation in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- No.97
- Date2026-02-11
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Ministry of Data and Statistics Holds Bilateral Meeting with the Australian Bureau of Statistics
Ministry of Data and Statistics Holds Bilateral Meeting with the Australian Bureau of Statistics– Korea and Australia Strengthen Statistical Cooperation through Sharing Data Utilization Experiences –The Ministry of Data and Statistics (MODS) of the Republic of Korea (Minister Ahn Hyungjun) holds a bilateral meeting on statistical cooperation with the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) in Daejeon from December 4 to December 5, 2025.The Republic of Korea and Australia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on statistical cooperation in December 2024. The current bilateral meeting marks the first high-level engagement following the signing of the MOU. The Australian delegation is led by Dr. David Gruen, Australian Statistician, and includes senior officials such as Mr. Marcel van Kints, head of statistical services.The two sides convened to discuss a wide range of topics, including: • organizational restructuring of MODS (Korea) • statistical registers (Korea) • longitudinal data on individuals and businesses (Australia) • use of administrative and private-sector data for the production of economic statistics (Korea and Australia) • strategies to improve household survey response rates (Korea) • current status and future directions for the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in official statistics (Korea).Dr. David Gruen expressed strong interest in Korea’s efforts to strengthen data governance and advance AI-based statistical innovation following the elevation of its statistical authority to the Ministry of Data and Statistics. He noted, “I hope this meeting will serve as an opportunity to build a more innovative statistical ecosystem through cooperation and mutual learning between our two countries.”Minister Ahn Hyungjun stated, “This bilateral meeting is particularly meaningful as it is the first to be held since the signing of the MOU,” adding, “Through close cooperation with the Australian Bureau of Statistics, we look forward to jointly developing best practices in data-driven administration and statistical innovation.”
- No.96
- Date2025-12-05
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The 9th International Symposium on Low Fertility and population Ageing
The 9th Global Symposium on Low Fertility and Ageing 2025 was co-hosted by UNFPA and the Ministry of Data and Statistics of the Republic of Korea on 2–3 December in Seoul.The symposium focused on rethinking old-age dependency and promoting the engagement of older persons in ageing societies.Approximately 70 experts from academia, international organizations, civil society, and the private sector participated.The event aimed to assess global ageing trends and explore effective policy responses through international cooperation.Six thematic sessions addressed diverse topics, including definitions of old-age dependency, National Transfer Accounts (NTA), the role of technology in ageing societies, labour market participation of older persons, and best practices from healthy ageing centres.A special session on ageing policies highlighted national experiences and international cooperation.Since its launch in 2017, the annual symposium series has served as a key platform for formulating evidence-based policies in response to low fertility and population ageing and for strengthening international collaboration.The organizers emphasized the importance of data-driven strategies and global partnershipsto respond proactively to the challenges of rapidly ageing societies.
- No.95
- Date2025-12-05
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2025 MODS of Korea Holds Bilateral Statistics Meeting with the GSO of Vietnam
Ministry of Data and Statistics of Korea Is Holding Bilateral Statistics Cooperation Meeting with the National Statistics Office of Viet Nam Sharing systems for statistical coordination and review, and frameworks for statistical finance and organizational management The Ministry of Data and Statistics of the Republic of Korea, Minister Ahn Hyungjun, is holding a bilateral statistics cooperation meeting with the National Statistics Office (NSO) of Viet Nam in Daejeon from Monday, November 3 to Friday, November 7, 2025.The two institutions have maintained a close cooperative relationship since signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on statistical cooperation in 2002. In addition, Korea has been implementing an Official Development Assistance (ODA) project aimed at strengthening the statistical capacity of Viet Nam from 2022 to 2025.The Vietnamese delegation consists of seven officials, including Mr. Nguyen Thanh Duong, Vice Director General of the National Statistics Office of Viet Nam.At the request of the Vietnamese side, the meeting will focus on sharing experiences and practices in key areas of statistical administration, including an overview of the organizational restructuring of the Ministry of Data and Statistics, systems for fiscal management and asset administration, national statistical coordination and review mechanisms, and local statistics activities.In particular, following recent reforms of central and local government structures in Viet Nam, the GSO has shown strong interest in Korea’s elevation of its former Statistics Korea to the Ministry of Data and Statistics, and has requested detailed information on Korea’s organizational reform process.Mr. Nguyen Thanh Duong, Vice Director General of the GSO, stated, “Bilateral cooperation and the ODA project with the Ministry of Data and Statistics of Korea have greatly contributed to strengthening Viet Nam’s statistical capacity,” adding that “this meeting will be highly beneficial for the advancement of Viet Nam’s statistical system and organizational innovation.”Minister Ahn Hyungjun remarked, “This bilateral meeting is particularly meaningful as it is the first to be held since Korea’s statistical authority was elevated to the Ministry of Data and Statistics,” and added, “I hope that our two countries will continue to work closely together to advance statistical systems and strengthen data governance.”
- No.94
- Date2025-11-03
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2025 1st International Symposium on the Modernization of Labour Statistics Hosted by KOSTAT and ILO
KOSTAT and ILO Are Hosting the 1st International Symposium on the Modernization of Labour Statistics Korea Is Leading Global Dialogue with Experts from 18 Nations to Drive Innovation in Labour StatisticsStatistics Korea (KOSTAT), led by Commissioner Ahn Hyungjun, is hosting the 1st International Symposium on the Modernization of Labour Statistics in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO). The two-day event is taking place from Tuesday, September 23 to Wednesday, September 24, 2025 at Hotel Naru Seoul MGallery.The symposium is bringing together representatives from major international organizations, including the ILO, UNSD, UNESCAP, and Eurostat, alongside labour statistics experts from 18 representative countries* across all continents. Participants are engaging in high-level discussions on innovative strategies to modernize labour force surveys.* Asia-Pacific: Korea, Japan, China, Australia, Vietnam, Singapore Europe: UK, Italy, Finland, Poland, Denmark, Ireland, Türkiye Africa: Botswana South America: Mexico, Brazil, Chile, ColombiaWhy Modernize Labour Statistics?While labour statistics are foundational to crafting national economic and social policies, national statistical offices (NSOs) worldwide are facing growing challenges. Rising operational costs and declining response rates have made it increasingly difficult to maintain data quality. Furthermore, there is a surging demand for more granular data to capture a rapidly changing labour market, characterized by evolving working conditions, rising migrant labor, and the expansion of digital platform employment.Building on a decade of close partnership with the ILO since 2015 to strengthen statistical capacity in the Asia-Pacific, KOSTAT launched this new global forum to expand the scope of cooperation worldwide. This symposium is scheduled to be held biennially, serving as a permanent platform for international dialogue on labour statistics.Key Agenda and SessionsThe symposium features a keynote panel discussion and six thematic sessions. The keynote panel offers deep insights into the challenges and future directions of labour surveys from the diverse perspectives of data producers, users, and international organizations.The six thematic sessions showcase national innovations in: • Improving response rates and data quality • Survey modularization and integration • Integrating survey and administrative data • Data governance • Leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) • New communication strategiesTo ensure global accessibility, the event is being live-streamed on YouTube, allowing labour experts worldwide to participate remotely.Future Outlook and Expected ImpactMr. Rafael Diez de Medina, Director of the ILO Department of Statistics, noted: "Our ongoing partnership with KOSTAT is instrumental to the ILO’s efforts in modernizing labour statistics. This symposium will serve as a vital platform for sharing innovative practices across nations."In their congratulatory video messages, Ms. Rachael Beaven, Director of the Statistics Division at UNESCAP, and Ms. Mariana Kotzeva, Director-General of Eurostat, welcomed the launch of this global dialogue.Commissioner Ahn Hyungjun of KOSTAT emphasized: "This symposium marks a pivotal starting point for global cooperation in enhancing labour statistics. KOSTAT remains committed to exploring the future of labour data and finding innovative solutions to meet the demands of our rapidly changing times."The symposium is expected to foster a vibrant exchange of knowledge and accelerate the adoption of innovative survey methodologies. By co-hosting this event with the ILO, KOSTAT aims to solidify Korea’s role as a central hub for international cooperation in the modernization of labour statistics.
- No.93
- Date2025-09-30
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Statistics Korea and the OECD Discuss the Future of Official Statistics in the Age of Artificial Intelligence(AI)
Statistics Korea (Commissioner Hyungjun Ahn), in cooperation with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), will host an international conference titled “KOSTAT-OECD Global Conference on AI for Data, Data for AI: Shaping the Future of Official Statistics” from September 9 (Tuesday) to 10 (Wednesday) at Hotel Naru Seoul – MGallery.The conference will bring together around 100 high-level experts from national statistical offices, the OECD, the United Nations (UN), academia, and the private sector to discuss the opportunities and challenges of the AI era, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies into statistical production processes, and the measurement of the economic and social impacts of AI. Participants will explore the diverse potential of AI in the field of official statistics and the evolving role of national statistical offices.Participating speakers and institutions include: the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Estonia, Norway, Mexico, Israel, Mongolia, the OECD, the United Nations, the European Union (EU), the World Bank, Google, and Naver.This conference is particularly significant in that it is an international event led by Statistics Korea in partnership with the OECD that focuses exclusively on statistics and artificial intelligence as its main theme. Through hosting this conference, Statistics Korea aims to establish itself as a leading institution in advancing the AI agenda within the international statistical community and to actively contribute to the implementation of national policy initiatives for a major AI-driven transformation of government, including the development of statistical metadata.In his opening remarks, Commissioner Hyungjun Ahn stated, “Artificial intelligence is fundamentally transforming the way statistics are produced and used, while at the same time posing new challenges for safeguarding the reliability and transparency of official statistics.” He added, “Through this conference, Statistics Korea will take the lead in international cooperation as a frontrunner in AI and will expand its support for developing countries.”
- No.92
- Date2025-09-09
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Statistics Korea Participates in the 22nd Meeting of the OECD Committee on Statistics and Statistical Policy
Statistics Korea announced that it participated in the 22nd Meeting of the OECD Committee on Statistics and Statistical Policy held in Geneva, Switzerland, from Wednesday, June 18 to Thursday, June 19.The meeting is an annual forum that brings together heads of statistical offices from OECD member countries and major international organizations to discuss key statistical data issues and development strategies of importance to the international community.At this year’s meeting, the roles of national statistical offices and their response strategies in the rapidly changing era of artificial intelligence (AI) were discussed as a key agenda item. In addition, active discussions were held on common policy challenges faced by OECD countries, including: the implementation of the 2025 System of National Accounts (SNA); the measurement of household net worth for analyzing intergenerational wealth transfers; and the measurement of child-rearing costs in the context of low fertility and population ageing.Statistics Korea (Head of Delegation: Seungcheol Heo, Director General for Planning and Coordination) presented the strategy of the Republic of Korea for strengthening the reliability of official statistics in response to the rapid diffusion of generative AI, with a particular emphasis on the importance of structuring statistical explanatory materials (metadata). The presentation attracted strong interest from member countries.Mr. Heo, Head of the Delegation, stated, “By participating in this meeting, the Republic of Korea shared its experience in responding swiftly to rapid changes in AI technology, helped lead international discussions, and further strengthened its standing as an advanced country in official statistics.”
- No.91
- Date2025-06-20
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The Republic of Korea Elected for the Seventh Consecutive Term to the Executive Board of the United Nations Statistical Institute for Asia and the Pacific (UNSIAP)
Statistics Korea (Commissioner Hyoung Il Lee) announced that the Republic of Korea was elected for the seventh consecutive term to the Executive Board of the United Nations Statistical Institute for Asia and the Pacific (UNSIAP) at the 81st session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), held on Wednesday, April 23, in Bangkok, Thailand.The UN Statistical Institute for Asia and the Pacific (UNSIAP) was established in 1970 to provide education and training for statistical officials in the Asia-Pacific region and was elevated to an institution under UNESCAP in 1995. The UNSIAP Executive Board consists of nine countries in total, including Japan as an ex officio member.Among 13 countries that stood for election to the UNSIAP Executive Board, the Republic of Korea was elected with the second-highest number of votes to serve for the 2025–2028 term. This achievement reflects Statistics Korea’s continued contributions to strengthening statistical capacity in the Asia-Pacific region, including jointly operating training programs with UNSIAP for approximately 700 officials from around 40 countries through invitation-based training initiatives. The nine member countries include the Republic of Korea, Japan, China, India, the Philippines, Thailand, and others.Commissioner Hyoung Il Lee stated, “As a member of the bureaus of the United Nations and the OECD statistical committees, the Republic of Korea will continue to contribute to strengthening the statistical capacity of countries in the region for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”He further emphasized, “In response to rapid technological changes such as artificial intelligence (AI), we will expand related training programs for national statistical offices in the region and share the Republic of Korea’s experience in new fields such as data science, thereby further strengthening our leading role as an advanced country in official statistics.”
- No.90
- Date2025-04-24
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Statistics Korea Sharing Experience in Census Innovation with China
Statistics Korea Is Sharing Its Experience in Register-Based Census Innovation with ChinaNational Bureau of Statistics of China Visits Korea with UNFPA and UNICEF to Explore Transition to a Register-Based CensusStatistics Korea announced that, at the request of the National Bureau of Statistics of China (NBS), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), it is conducting a study visit program from Monday, March 24 to Tuesday, March 25, 2025, to share Korea’s experience in producing a register-based census.The National Bureau of Statistics of China is currently reviewing a transition to a register-based census following recommendations from UNFPA, and decided to visit Korea to benchmark the advanced practices of Statistics Korea, which has successfully established a register-based census system.※ The National Bureau of Statistics of China is carrying out a data project in cooperation with UNFPA and UNICEF to strengthen demographic statistical capacity.The study visit is being attended by a six-member delegation led by Ms. Xiao Ning, Deputy Director General of the Department of Population and Employment Statistics of the National Bureau of Statistics of China, along with representatives from UNFPA and UNICEF.During the program, Statistics Korea is covering key elements required for transitioning to a register-based census, including: ▴ methodology and essential infrastructure for a register-based census ▴ acquisition of administrative data and data protection management systems ▴ methodologies for producing population, household, and housing statistics based on a register-based census ▴ database (DB) construction and standardization strategies.Ms. Xiao Ning, Deputy Director General of the Department of Population and Employment Statistics of the NBS, stated, “Based on Korea’s successful experience in transitioning to a register-based census, we plan to explore an approach tailored to China’s specific circumstances.”Vice Commissioner Ahn Hyungjun of Statistics Korea remarked, “Through the register-based census, we have achieved outcomes such as reducing survey costs and improving data quality,” adding, “We hope this study visit will provide practical support for China’s census innovation.”Statistics Korea plans to further strengthen its international leadership in the field of register-based censuses through this program and to contribute to the advancement of global demographic statistics by cooperating with international organizations and countries around the world.
- No.89
- Date2025-03-24
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Commissioner Hyoung Il Lee of Statistics Korea Demonstrates International Statistical Leadership at the 56th Session of the United Nations Statistical Commission
Statistics Korea announced that Commissioner Hyoung Il Lee attended the 56th Session of the United Nations Statistical Commission (UNSC) held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, United States, from Monday, March 3 to Friday, March 7, as the Head Delegate of the Republic of Korea, and achieved the significant outcome of being reappointed to the Bureau for a second consecutive term following last year.The United Nations Statistical Commission is the highest-level annual international statistical forum where heads of national statistical offices gather to discuss and decide on standards and methodologies for the production of statistics needed to support economic, social, and environmental policies.The Bureau of the United Nations Statistical Commission is the Commission’s highest decision-making body and consists of five members (one Chair, three Vice-Chairs, and one Rapporteur).During the opening session of the 56th UNSC, Commissioner Hyoung Il Lee was re-elected by unanimous consent of the member states as Vice-Chair of the Bureau. This re-election reflects recognition of his active participation and contributions to the Bureau’s work over the past year as the representative of the Asia-Pacific region.The Bureau holds five meetings per year (in April, June, September, November, and January 2025), both in person and online, to discuss and respond to key issues such as expanding the membership and strengthening the role of the United Nations Statistical Commission, and improving statistical data governance.In addition, in his capacity as a member of the Bureau, Commissioner Lee participated as a discussant in the High-level Forum on “Defining the Statistical Commission’s Role in Data Governance for Official Statistics” held on Monday, March 3. He emphasized the importance of the role of the United Nations Statistical Commission in discussions on data governance for official statistics and engaged in discussions on future cooperation with other United Nations bodies.Commissioner Lee stated, “As a member of the Bureau representing the Asia-Pacific region, I feel an even stronger sense of responsibility,” and added, “This year as well, based on the Republic of Korea’s advanced experience in statistical production, I will contribute to strengthening the role of the United Nations Statistical Commission and enhancing the standing of national statistical offices in the international community.”This session of the United Nations Statistical Commission was a particularly rare and significant meeting for the international statistical community, as resolutions were adopted simultaneously on the implementation of the 2025 System of National Accounts (SNA), reflecting digitalization, globalization, well-being, and sustainability measurement, and on the promotion of the 2030 World Population and Housing Census Programme.In addition, a total of around 32 agenda items were actively discussed, including a comprehensive revision of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) indicators, the development of a new conceptual framework for social and demographic statistics, and improvements in various economic and social statistics using administrative data and privately held data.On this occasion, Commissioner Lee also promoted the 100th anniversary of the Population and Housing Census of the Republic of Korea and shared the Republic of Korea’s advanced census practices, including the combined census approach under which total population, households, and housing figures are published annually, while sample surveys are conducted every five years.Furthermore, he proposed reviewing the introduction of non-probability sampling to complement the limitations of the current household survey system in the face of declining response rates, and expressed views calling on the United Nations to prepare for the post-2030 period in relation to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), taking into account the 2030 end date of the SDGs.Meanwhile, during the period of the United Nations Statistical Commission, Commissioner Lee also attended the Bureau meeting of the OECD Committee on Statistics and Statistical Policy, where he participated in the process of selecting agenda items for the 22nd Meeting of the OECD Committee on Statistics and Statistical Policy (to be held in June 2025), and actively fulfilled the role of the Republic of Korea as a leading country in official statistics by discussing various cooperation projects with heads of statistical offices from other countries and international organizations.Participants included the Director of the OECD Statistics and Data Directorate, the Chief Statistician of Australia, the Chief Statistician of the Netherlands, the Chief Statistician of the United Kingdom, among others.Commissioner Lee stated, “Through participation in this session of the United Nations Statistical Commission, the Republic of Korea contributed to the development of international statistical standards based on its advanced experience in statistical production, identified areas for improving Korean statistics in line with international standards, and further strengthened cooperation with the international statistical community, thereby enhancing the Republic of Korea’s standing.” ※ (From left) Jurate Petrauskienė, Director General of Statistics Lithuania; Stefan Schweinfest, Director of the United Nations Statistics Division; and Lee Hyung-il, Commissioner of Statistics Korea
- No.88
- Date2025-03-06
Contact
Director for International Cooperation.
E-mail : modsint@korea.kr
