Ministry of Statistics signs MOU with Statistics Finland to boost data cooperation in AI era

South Korea's Ministry of Statistics has joined forces with Statistics Finland to drive data and statistical innovation in the AI era.

The ministry announced Thursday that it signed a memorandum of understanding with Statistics Finland in Helsinki on June 9 (local time) and held a bilateral meeting to advance cooperation in data and statistics.

The meeting brought together a Korean delegation led by Jeong Dong-wook, director general for national data hub policy, and Finnish counterparts including Statistics Finland Director General Markus Sovala. The two sides discussed data-driven policy and approaches to statistical innovation.

Both agencies agreed that data governance and the modernization of statistical production systems are growing in importance as AI spreads and demand for data-driven policy rises, and they signed the MOU to formalize their cooperation. The agreement covers experience and information sharing in data and statistics, collaboration on the use of administrative records and new data sources, expert exchanges and bilateral meetings, and joint seminars and academic events.

At the bilateral meeting that followed the signing, the Ministry of Statistics presented its plans to strengthen national data hub functions, case studies on building policy-tailored integrated datasets, and its strategy for developing AI-friendly statistical metadata. Statistics Finland shared the role of its national statistics office within the country's data ecosystem, the results of modernizing its statistical production processes, and examples of statistics derived from administrative records, drawing on its experience operating a register-based statistical system.

"Statistics Finland is a world leader in register-based statistics and the use of administrative data," Jeong said. "We hope this agreement will serve as an opportunity for both agencies to closely share their experiences in data and statistical innovation in the AI era and to jointly lead international discussions on data governance and statistical modernization."

Markus Sovala, director general of Statistics Finland, said South Korea's Ministry of Statistics "has impressive experience and capabilities in data-driven administration and AI-friendly statistical innovation," adding that he hoped the partnership would become "an important milestone for data-driven innovation at both agencies."