Identifying New Forms of Employment Such as Digital Platform Jobs
Improving Suicide and Income Mobility Statistics
Ahn Hyungjun: "Accelerating the Pace of Innovation"
The National Data Office has announced plans to establish a pan-government data governance system by enacting the National Data Framework Act (tentative name) and forming and operating the National Data Committee. The office will also develop AI-friendly data and create integrated datasets by combining information from various government ministries.
Hyungjun Ahn, Director of the National Data Office, is reporting on ministry tasks at the Ministry of Economy and Finance (National Tax Service, Korea Customs Service, Public Procurement Service) - National Data Office briefing held on the 11th at the Government Sejong Convention Center in Sejong City. Photo by Yonhap News
On December 11, at the Government Sejong Convention Center’s international conference hall, the National Data Office presented its “2026 National Data Office Work Report” in a meeting presided over by President Lee Jaemyung and attended by Prime Minister Kim Minseok, among others.
During the work report, the office unveiled its vision of “data that the public can trust and easily utilize, and statistics that support Korea’s national policy agenda,” and outlined its core tasks. Specifically, it will pursue four main objectives: ▲ Establishing a data utilization and management system to realize an AI-based society; ▲ Enhancing and scaling up pan-government data value and utilization; ▲ Developing national statistics to support policy tasks; and ▲ Strengthening national statistical services and infrastructure.
To build pan-government data governance, the office plans to enact the National Data Framework Act (tentative name) and form the National Data Committee, which will oversee and deliberate on data policy. For systematic management of national data, the office will designate and register critical national data, and ensure the provision and management of reliable, high-quality data through a registration system and quality consulting, among other measures.
Additionally, the office will establish AI-friendly metadata so that AI can easily read and interpret statistical data. By introducing AI into the entire process-from diagnosing data linkage possibilities to analysis and export-the office aims to enhance the convenience of data use. It will also develop integrated datasets by combining diverse information from multiple ministries, such as income mobility databases and social security databases, thereby increasing their value.
In developing national statistics, the office plans to use the 2024 Economic Census to analyze changes in the industrial ecosystem and expand regional statistics by developing indicators such as region-specific resident population and regional investment trends. It will also strengthen research on inequality indicators and data, and work to identify new forms of employment, such as digital platform jobs. In addition, the office will improve suicide statistics and income mobility statistics by utilizing various administrative data.
The office will also focus on building a customized service model on the National Statistical Portal (KOSIS), enabling users to generate their own statistical tables. Furthermore, it will establish and revise special industrial classifications needed for emerging industries such as robotics and renewable energy. Efforts to strengthen infrastructure will include specialized training to foster AI and data talent.
Director Hyungjun Ahn stated, “We will create changes that the public can truly feel,” adding, “We will accelerate data innovation to realize an AI-based society and further enhance its completeness.”
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