Korea Breaks World Mark in Online Census Participation

More than 20 percent of Korean households have participated in a national census just six days since it started, setting a world record.

Statistics Korea said Wednesday that as of 3 p.m., more than four million households or 20.2 percent took part in the census via the Internet, breaking the world record of 18.5 percent set by Canada in 2006.

In 2005, the Internet participation rate in Korea was just 0.9 percent or 140,000 households.

By region, Daejeon, where the statistical office is based, showed the highest participatory rate of 25.2 percent, followed by South Gyeongsang Province with 23.2 percent and Ulsan with 22.5 percent. The rates for North Gyeongsang Province (16.2 percent) and South Jeolla Province (12 percent) were below the average.

Door-to-door surveys for 15 days will begin Monday for households that did not take part in the online census.

hyejin@donga.com