The Summer Seminar on Population was originally launched by the East-West Center (EWC) in 1970. It earned its reputation as one of the leading international seminar series on population issues and continued until the 42nd Seminar in 2011. In 2013, the program was transferred from the EWC to Statistics Korea (KOSTAT), which organized the first KOSTAT Summer Seminar on Population in 2014 as part of its International Population Statistics Cooperation Project.

Beginning in 2016, the seminar evolved into a joint initiative between KOSTAT and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and has since been held annually as the KOSTAT–UNFPA Summer Seminar on Population.
Following the reorganization of KOSTAT as the Ministry of Data and Statistics (MODS) in 2025, the program continues under MODS in partnership with UNFPA, now known as the MODS–UNFPA Summer Seminar on Population. Over the decades, it has developed into an independent and consecutive series of seminars dedicated to fostering international dialogue on population and development.

The MODS–UNFPA Summer Seminar on Population has grown into a global platform that brings together hundreds of participants from more than 20 countries each year to share knowledge, exchange best practices, and discuss emerging population issues. It continues to serve as a forum that builds professional networks and strengthens the statistical and analytical capacities of government statisticians, researchers, and graduate students around the world.

We look forward to your continued interest and participation in the seminar, and we hope it will remain an invaluable opportunity to share insights and experiences among experts in the field.