Statistics Korea Improves Household Trend Survey Method... Launches Research Project on 'Time Series Linkage'

Frequent Sample Survey Method Improvements Make Comparisons Impossible... Measures Needed

[Asia Economy Reporter Junyi Park] Statistics Korea is promoting a 'time series linkage' study to improve the Household Trends Survey method, which had sparked controversy over the household income sample.

On the 13th, Statistics Korea announced the commissioning of a service project for the 'Household Trends Survey (Consumption Expenditure) Time Series Linkage Study' on the Public Procurement Service's Nara Market.

In the request for proposal for the research service, Statistics Korea stated, "Time series linkage is necessary to enhance the utilization of data such as annual trends and growth rates."

Previously, until 2016, Statistics Korea published the Household Trends Survey results quarterly by dividing them into income and expenditure sections. However, due to frequent survey method revisions afterward, the time series was broken, making comparison with previous surveys impossible.

As issues regarding the sample continued to be raised, the National Assembly and others pointed out the need for countermeasures.

Regarding the promotion of this research project, a Statistics Korea official said, "We have been preparing internally since last year," and added, "We commissioned the research service project to have it verified by a credible institution."