The National Data Agency is working to establish a national data management system through the promotion of the National Data Basic Law and the expansion of public and private data integration. During the first year of the Lee administration, efforts have intensified to position the agency as the central authority for national data in the era of artificial intelligence (AI), marking the beginning of a national-level data ecosystem.
In a report titled "Achievements of the People's Sovereignty Government After One Year," released on June 2, the agency highlighted four key areas of focus: establishing government-wide data governance, enhancing data value, developing national statistics, and strengthening statistical services and infrastructure.
As part of these efforts, the agency has prepared a draft of the National Data Basic Law, which was submitted to the National Assembly on May 27. The proposed law includes provisions for establishing a comprehensive coordination system for national data, designating and managing national data, ensuring quality control, and designating national data utilization centers.
Ahn Hyung-jun, head of the National Data Agency, stated during the June 1 briefing, "Previously, data governance was fragmented across public data, industrial data, and personal data, leading to a lack of a cohesive national management system. The core of promoting this basic law is to enable citizens to utilize data more easily."
The agency is also advancing initiatives to enhance data value. It is working on building AI-friendly metadata (ontology) to ensure that AI can accurately read and interpret statistical data, and is introducing new data protection technologies such as homomorphic encryption and reproducible data. In November of last year, the agency launched a database service for small and medium-sized enterprises, and plans to provide integrated data on the elderly, deceased individuals, and homeowners later this year.
Ahn noted, "Data on the elderly can be used to address issues related to an aging society, data on deceased individuals can inform policies to prevent suicide and solitary deaths, and data on homeowners can aid in the development of housing and real estate policies."
The agency is also developing statistics to support national policy initiatives. It has published a regional supply and use table that shows the movement of goods and services between regions for the first time and expanded the areas for compiling living population statistics from 89 to 107. Additionally, it has developed population dynamics panel statistics to analyze changes in marriage and childbirth and has expanded youth-related statistics, including a youth statistical map and quality of life analysis.
To make data more accessible to the public, the agency is enhancing its statistical services. It has introduced new features for data visualization and industry statistical maps, and starting this month, it will apply AI technology to operate the statistical data center during evenings and weekends.
Ahn concluded, "AI competitiveness ultimately stems from data competitiveness. We will accelerate data innovation and actively support the resolution of national issues through the integration and utilization of diverse data."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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