The Democratic Party of Korea is considering a plan to make the Statistics Korea, a government agency under the Ministry of Economy and Finance, an independent entity, informally called the 'Statistics Data Agency' or 'Future Strategy Data Agency.' The aim is to break the cycle of recurrent controversies surrounding statistical manipulation and retaliatory investigations with each administration. Statistics Korea oversees statistics across all areas, including social and environmental statistics, and the fact that all institutions use its results is also cited as a basis for its independence.
According to a comprehensive report by ChosunBiz on the 2nd, the Democratic Party's election campaign committee has recently received policy proposals regarding this from academia and experts and is discussing amendments to the Government Organization Act. At the level of the policy headquarters, there is a plan to review specific details related to the restructuring of the Ministry of Economy and Finance next week. The key point is to elevate Statistics Korea, currently tied to the Ministry of Economy and Finance, to a 'department' under the Prime Minister to handle statistical duties. Names such as 'Statistics Data Agency,' 'Future Strategy Data Agency,' and 'National Statistics Agency' have also been mentioned.
A member of the policy headquarters said during a currency call on the same day, 'We are focusing on the fact that the statistical data collected by Statistics Korea constitutes a 'national administrative resource.'' He noted, 'Rather than receiving partial support under the Ministry of Economy and Finance, it is necessary to create an organization that directly manages statistical data and supports national needs, similar to the Ministry of Personnel Management,' adding that he strongly agrees with the intention of making it an independent agency considering its susceptibility to outside pressures regarding whether the statistics favor the current administration.
During internal discussions, the idea of a 'term system for the head of Statistics Korea' was mentioned, referring to the need to conduct personnel hearings for the head of Statistics Korea to ensure the organization's political neutrality and to set the term by law. In Europe, countries such as the Netherlands (7 years), Norway (6 years), and Greece (5 years) legally guarantee the terms of their national statistical agency heads.
Ultimately, there are suggestions to grant decision-making power and policy support functions related to statistics and data, making it an 'independent agency under the constitution.' This is tentatively named the 'National Statistics Data Agency.'
The restructuring of Statistics Korea is also a pledge of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration. In the People Power Party's pledge booklet from the last presidential election, it includes ▲ securing the independence of the national statistical agency ▲ establishing a basis for public sector digital information sharing ▲ and introducing a system for data-driven and scientific decision-making in the administration. Since each department holds the authority to execute budgets and measure performance in essential areas for statistical work, it was highlighted that a dedicated organization for statistical data is needed for objective policy evaluation.
The Democratic Party's efforts to separate Statistics Korea emerged at a time when the Board of Audit and Inspection released an audit report regarding the 'statistical manipulation' allegations of the Moon Jae-in administration after 2 years and 7 months. At that time, it was reported that statistics related to income, dwellings, and employment were manipulated and distorted under directives from the Blue House, implicating all members of the Blue House's policy office during the Moon Jae-in administration. However, the police have already exonerated Kang Shin-wook, the former head of Statistics Korea, who was the core party in the statistical manipulation allegations last year. This indicates that the system is vulnerable to external pressures from the current administration.
Such controversies also existed during the Lee Myung-bak administration. In 2012, near the end of that administration, Statistics Korea completed a survey using a new Gini coefficient but did not release the results. A week after the presidential election, when the index turned out unfavorably for the ruling party, the results of the household financial welfare survey, lacking the new Gini coefficient, were published, which fueled the controversy.
A person affiliated with the party's policy committee stated, 'Ultimately, the restructuring is a matter that the elected president will decide,' but added, 'Since we need to operate the government immediately without a transition committee, it is necessary for the party to prepare an overall restructuring plan in advance.' They also emphasized that 'the political neutrality and independence of Statistics Korea are matters connected to national credibility' and said, 'We need to approach this very carefully in terms of operational efficiency, independence, and strategic planning enhancement.'