Survey to capture digital transformation trends including unmanned stores and AI adoption
Gwangju Metropolitan City, led by Mayor Kang Ki-jung, will conduct on-site field surveys of local businesses from Friday through July 22 as part of the 2025 Economic Census.
The Economic Census is a nationally designated statistical survey conducted every five years to comprehensively assess the structure, distribution and management conditions of industries across South Korea. This round has significantly expanded the use of administrative data to reduce the response burden on businesses.
As a result, field visits will cover only 89,621 businesses — 44.4 percent of the roughly 202,000 businesses in the Gwangju area.
The survey consists of 38 items in total: 12 common items — including business name, number of employees and revenue — along with 26 industry-specific items reflecting recent digital transformation trends in the business sector, covering whether a business operates unmanned stores, its use of AI and the status of robot adoption.
Surveys will primarily be conducted through in-person interviews, with enumerators visiting businesses directly. For respondents' convenience, a smart survey option will also be available via online platforms (PC and mobile), telephone, email and fax.
"The Economic Census is a critical survey that accurately captures the scale and structure of the local economy, serving as foundational data for formulating economic policies and business support measures," said Park Hye-mi, the city's data and informatization officer. "Particularly as it helps map Gwangju's emerging industrial landscape as a leader in AI and digital transformation, we ask for your cooperation."
sij@heraldcorp.com
