South Korea's National Data Agency announced comprehensive AI and data infrastructure initiatives on the 15th. The announcement was made during a presidential briefing at the Blue House guest house presided by President Lee Jae-myung. The agency unveiled plans to establish a secure national data connectivity system and AI-based price monitoring capabilities. Director Ahn Hyung-joon stated the agency will complete a national data system that substantially supports citizens' lives through tangible AI and data innovation. The multi-phase plan includes coordination with the Ministry of Economy and Finance and other government ministries to develop AI-driven public services spanning price monitoring, population density prediction, and statistical verification systems.
National Data Agency Establishes Secure Data Connectivity System
The National Data Agency will establish the 'National Data for All' system by next year, which securely connects the comprehensive registration database with major data centers across government ministries. The agency explained this system connects centers through dedicated networks rather than consolidating data from each institution into a single location. The plan includes strengthening data protection through new technologies such as homomorphic encryption to ensure both convenience and safety in data connectivity and utilization.
AI-Powered Price Monitoring System Launches by Year-End
The agency will develop AI-based price monitoring indicators and systems by the end of this year in collaboration with the Ministry of Economy and Finance, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. The system will rapidly detect price fluctuations in essential consumer goods. The agency will also build a system between 2027 and 2028 where AI automatically identifies articles that misquote statistics and compares them with official statistical data for verification. Starting next year, the agency will provide AI-based population density prediction information for major regions during holidays, festivals, and events to prevent safety accidents and improve mobility convenience.
Government Builds AI Data Management Framework Across Ministries
The National Data Agency will establish a specialized AI system as a leading model to convert each ministry's policy materials into data that AI can utilize, with plans to expand this government-wide. The agency will phase in the construction of AI-friendly metadata to enable AI to answer accurately based on official statistics without hallucinations, enhancing AI reliability and usability. The agency plans to apply AI technology to statistical data centers to provide a 24-hour uninterrupted data analysis environment. The agency will introduce provisional systems and monthly/quarterly construction frameworks when building registration databases to significantly shorten the registration database provision timeline.
Regional Statistics Expansion Supports Local-Led Growth
The agency will expand statistics showing regional investment trends, living population, and changes in regional industry and population/household structures. The plan includes supporting local-led growth through construction of regional-level registration databases linking local government administrative data and registration databases, and regional-level public-private combined data services that merge public and private materials.
Consumer Price Index Adds 10 Items, Removes 13
The Consumer Price Index will add 10 items including software subscription fees, cloud storage space usage fees, and electric vehicle charging fees, while removing 13 items including peanuts, bellflower root, kindergarten payments, and storage devices. The agency will announce the revision results around year-end. The agency will improve the compilation method for rent by utilizing comprehensive housing lease report data instead of existing field surveys.
FAQ
What did South Korea's National Data Agency announce on the 15th?
The National Data Agency announced comprehensive AI and data infrastructure initiatives during a presidential briefing at the Blue House guest house. The announcement included plans to establish a secure 'National Data for All' connectivity system by next year, develop AI-based price monitoring systems by year-end, provide population density prediction services from next year, build AI data management frameworks across government ministries, and reform the Consumer Price Index with 10 additions and 13 removals to be announced around year-end.
How will the National Data for All system protect data security?
The National Data Agency stated the system will connect government data centers through dedicated networks rather than consolidating data into a single location. The agency specified it will strengthen data protection through new technologies such as homomorphic encryption to ensure both convenience and safety in data connectivity and utilization.
