Korean police investigate former head of National Statistics Office over suspicion of Moon administration's distortion of statistics

South Korean police have embarked on an investigation into Kang Shin-wook, former head of the National Statistics Office, over allegations that major national statistics were distorted during the Moon Jae-in administration.

The Seoul National Police Agency's Anti-Corruption and Public Crime Investigation Unit launched an investigation on January 6th into Kang's allegations of statistical distortion. In December last year, a civic group, the People's Livelihood Countermeasures Committee, filed a police complaint against Kang on suspicion of violating the Statistics Act, obstructing the exercise of rights by abuse of authority, and extortion.

In 2018, Kang was accused of arbitrarily reorganizing the household trend sample group and survey method, and distorting the statistics to appear to have improved income polarization.

In the sample population, the ratio of low-income earners was intentionally reduced, and the Q3 2019 quintile ratio was lowered from 5 to 4.

The quintile multiple is an economic indicator that shows how many times the average income of the top 20% is that of the bottom 20%. It is interpreted that the smaller the value, the better the income distribution.

Last month, the Korea Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI) investigated allegations that there was deliberate distortion in the sampling of housing prices, income, and employment surveys during the Moon administration. It is reported that the possibility of Mr. Kang's involvement was grasped in it.