Korea's stats agency chief named UN stats body's vice chair

• Published date: 02 March 2023
• Publication title: The Korea Times

Han Hoon, the chief of the Korean government's statistics agency, has been appointed as the second-highest-ranking official of the United Nations' top decision-making body on international statistics activities.

Statistics Korea announced on Thursday that the Statistics Korea commissioner has been elected as vice chair of the U.N. Statistical Commission during its 54th session currently taking place in New York.

The session is running from Feb. 28 to March 3, with the participation of its 24 rotating members including Korea, and other U.N. member states.

The U.N. commission is responsible for the setting of statistical standards and the development of concepts and methods, including their implementation at the national and international levels.

It is a functional commission of the U.N. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

Han's term is for up to two years. He will be a part of the commission's five-member panel chaired by Gabriella Vukovich, who concurrently heads Hungary's central statistics agency. The panel also includes three vice chairs and a rapporteur.

"Han has been attending the 54th session of the U.N. Statistical Commission as the representative of Korea, and his appointment as the commission's second-in-command indeed consolidates Korea's reputation as an advanced country in the field of international statistics," Statistics Korea noted in a press release. "His appointment reflects Korea's leading role in administrative data, big data and other issues that top the agenda on international statistics."

In a message carried by Statistics Korea, Han said, "I, as the vice chair, will make a full-fledged effort for the world to achieve its Sustainable Development Goals."

He added, "I will also...