[Exclusive] "Didn't Know It Existed"... Statistics Korea Omits Korean Data from International Organizations for Years

Korean Statistics Not Provided to International Organizations Hundreds of Times Annually
Production Impossible Due to Different International Standards, Many Missing Items
Data Exists but Six Years Omitted Due to Staff Error
Statistics Korea Begins Comprehensive Survey of All Ministries' Statistics
Rep. Kim Ju-young: "A Systematic Statistical System Must Be Established"

The Statistics Korea has been found to have failed to provide hundreds of statistical data to international organizations annually. The reason given is that Korea's statistical standards do not align with global standards, making provision itself impossible. Some statistics have been omitted for years due to staff errors. Statistics Korea has launched a full survey to identify whether there are similar cases.

According to the office of Kim Ju-young, a member of the Planning and Finance Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea, on the 6th, the total number of statistics not provided by Statistics Korea to international organizations last year was 289. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) accounted for the largest share with 158 cases, followed by the United Nations (UN) with 29 cases. Other international organizations accounted for 102 cases of non-provision.

Statistics Korea is responsible for overseeing the provision of data to international organizations. Although each ministry also compiles statistics and submits them directly to international organizations, Statistics Korea regularly receives and manages the status of data provision in accordance with Article 14 of the Statistics Act.

The number of data not submitted by Statistics Korea to international organizations reaches hundreds annually. UN non-provided statistics were only 11 cases in 2018 but increased to 16 in 2019, 17 in 2020, and 20 in 2021, showing a yearly rise. For other international organizations, the number increased from 76 cases in 2018 to 105 in 2021. The OECD had 219 cases of non-provision in 2021, but the number has somewhat decreased recently.

Statistics Korea states that due to differences in social and economic data collection environments by country, it is not possible to submit all data requested by international organizations. Statistics Korea explained, “Due to discrepancies between international standards and domestic realities, unproducible items, absence of survey items, and lack of data reliability, providing detailed data is difficult in reality.”

A representative example is the international migration statistics. This relates to the purpose and items of foreigner entry, but the Korean government's standards for counting foreign residents differ from international standards, preventing data provision. The same applies to education statistics. Collecting information on the education field and gender of students who have returned to their home country is impossible due to domestic personal information protection laws.

Absurd Mistakes Lead to Omission of Statistics... "Full Survey of All Ministries"

Some statistics have been omitted multiple times due to absurd mistakes. The 'Waste Management Industrial Production Index' is a representative case. Korea did not have this statistic until 2007, but began compiling it in 2008 following the revision of the Korean Standard Industrial Classification. However, the person responsible for providing data was unaware that the statistics could be provided, so sharing with international organizations did not occur. The UN requested this statistic for six years starting in 2016, but Statistics Korea only responded that it was 'not compiled.'

The report on statistics provided to international organizations also stated that the Waste Management Industrial Production Index was not surveyed at all. According to the Statistics Act, if data is not provided, the reason must be documented. The completed report should be submitted to the head of Statistics Korea, but it was handled as a section chief's decision under delegated authority regulations.

Upon confirming these issues during our investigation, Statistics Korea began a full survey. Recently, Statistics Korea established the 'Plan to Inspect Non-Provided Items of Statistics for International Organizations' and notified all ministries to document and submit statistics not provided along with reasons. They were asked to specify why submission was not possible and whether there are plans to change this through future statistical development.

Representative Kim said, “Although the volume of data provided to international organizations is increasing, monitoring of data provision and provided statistics is not properly conducted, damaging the country's image in the international community. As Korea is a member of the UN Statistical Commission, it is necessary to strengthen monitoring capabilities and establish a systematic system with expertise regarding statistics provided to international organizations.”