SEOUL, April 25, 2024 - Dr. Rita Columbia, Chief a.i. of the UNFPA Seoul Representational Office, met with Ms. Sooyoung Kim, Director of International Cooperation at Statistics Korea (KOSTAT), on April 25, to review ongoing cooperation and outline forthcoming initiatives.

Dr. Columbia expressed appreciation for KOSTAT's support to UNFPA's global agenda, which plays a crucial role in researching population issues, low fertility, and population ageing, thus contributing to more robust and accurate data for sustainable development and achieving the SDGs by 2030.

Ms. Sooyoung Kim emphasized the relevance of the partnership between KOSTAT and UNFPA, expressing commitment to intensifying research efforts on low fertility and ageing. She noted the importance of enhancing technical expertise on these matters in Korea and disseminating best practices to assist countries worldwide in navigating demographic changes.

Both parties reconfirmed the importance of data utilization and dissemination for policy making and development, highlighting the upcoming 8th Global Symposium on Population Ageing and Low Fertility organized by UNFPA with KOSTAT's support.

The next Symposium, scheduled in late 2024, aims to convene policymakers, researchers, civil society leaders, and academia to facilitate knowledge exchange and share methodologies that support demographic resilience in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.

UNFPA collaborates with Statistics Korea under a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at promoting cooperation in data research and advancing global dialogue on data for development.

UNFPA expresses appreciation for the Republic of Korea's support as a leading advocate for population statistics worldwide.