Press Release

Press Release Date and Time

Sep. 14(Tue), 10:00

Distribution Date and Time

Sep. 14(Tue), 08:00

Department Responsible

Statistics in Policy Research Team, Statistics Research Institute

Contact

Director, Junwoo JEON (042-366-7130)

Deputy Director, Youngshil PARK (042-366-7111)

KOSTAT launches the Korean SDGs Data Platform

- Open-access Korean SDGs data to be widely available for international data users

- Data platform for real-time monitoring of progress in achieving 17 Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs) tailored to Korea

□ Statistics Korea (led by Commissioner Dr. Keunkwan Ryu) is promoting ‘data-based global public policy’ by launching  the「SDGs Data Platform for the Republic of Korea」on September 14.

⇒ English website address : https://kostat.go.kr/sdg/en

ㅇ The SDGs data platform allows international organizations, statistical agencies and users around the world to monitor Korea’s progress in achieving the 17 SDGs in real-time, as well as easily access the Korea’s SDGs data sources for international research and analysis.

ㅇ The Data Center for SDGs (headed by Dr. Youngshil Park) at the  Statistics Research Institute, a state-run think tank of data innovation and official statistics, has developed the SDGs Platform, leveraging open sources for the first time in Korea. The Platform greatly expands global access to Korean data on the UN’s SDGs and progress in implementing SDGs.

□ The English version of the SDGs data platform provides a one-stop SDGs data global service by uploading major SDG materials such as ▸Data for each SDG indicator, ▸Information on the SDGs and data collection systems, ▸Korea's SDGs progress reports and related papers.

ㅇ A total of 154 Korean SDGs data across 231 indicators are available, including indicators such as climate change, gender equality, and quality education. Korean ministries and international organizations are collaborating to produce data for indicators that do not currently have available data.

ㅇ It is notable that users over social media will be easily access the Korean SDGs data, thanks to the new function of sharing data on each SDG indicator tailored to SNS

• The SDGs cover 17 goals that nationals across the world agreed at the United Nations General Assembly (Sep. 2015) to jointly achieve by 2030 for the sustainable development of mankind, with the core principle of inclusiveness, 'Leaving No One Behind'.

• The Statistics Research Institute of Statistics Korea provides officially approved data in cooperation with ministries, as a ‘national focal point for SDGs data designated by UN’.

□ Dr. Asaph Young Chun, Director-General of the Statistics Research Institute (SRI) noted, “We hope the SDGs data platform in English will step up the use of Korean SDGs data among international organizations and global users.” Dr. Chun, added  that the SRI will continuously advance the platform in order to take the lead in ‘evidence-based global inclusion policies’ in the OECD.“

【Attachment】 1. Screenshot of the Data Platform

2. SDGs Questions and Answers        SDGs Data Platform

These materials can be used only if you reference the source.

Attachment 1. Screenshot of the Data Platform

【Opening page】

【Page displaying available SDG indicators – example: Goal 13 (climate action)】

【Page for data visualization and explanation - Example: Indicator 13.2.2 (Total greenhouse gas emissions per year)】

【Explanation】Each indicator dashboard provides SDGs data visualization to help users ascertain Korea’s progress in SDGs implementation at a glance and access the relevant data in real-time. A newly developed function has been added to enable data sharing through social media.

Attachment 2. SDGs Questions and Answers

Q. Why are the SDGs important?

⇒ The SDGs are aimed at achieving a unified response to issues facing the world that cannot be solved through the efforts of specific groups or countries alone, including poverty, inequality, the climate crisis, and violence. Participation and solidarity among all countries and stakeholder groups are essential.

Q. How can we monitor progress in SDGs implementation for each country?

⇒ The implementation progress of the 17 SDGs is monitored annually based on 231 UN SDG indicators. At the global level, the UN Secretary-General has published 『The Sustainable Development Goals Report』 to check the level of implementation at the UN High Level Political Forum (HLPF, held every July).

On a regional level, implementation progress is monitored by (sub) regional commission. In the Asia-Pacific region, which includes Korea, the 『Asia and the Pacific SDG Progress Report』 is published every March and the Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD) is also being held.

Individual countries also regularly monitor the implementation of the SDGs, and the results are shared in the form of voluntary reporting by each country at the UN HLPF (Korea took part in 2016).

Q. How is SDGs data being collected?

⇒ The UN designated international organizations in charge of each indicator and assigned them the roles of collecting data and developing indicator methodology. In addition, the UN designated a competent national focal point for SDGs data in each country, and the Statistical Research Institute of Statistics Korea serves as the authority in Korea.

Statistics Korea provides data in cooperation with 28 domestic ministries relevant to the indicators when data is requested by the international organizations in charge.

<SDGs data flow>