[Exclusive] NongHyup and affiliates have inconsistent data despite 711 trillion won in assets, with no unified system after 9 years of development

It has been revealed that data management across Nonghyup nationwide and its affiliates is fragmented. Although nine years have passed since the cooperative, with total assets of 71.1 trillion won, launched big data construction efforts, it was confirmed that an integrated data system covering the 1,104 regional agricultural and livestock cooperatives and affiliates nationwide has yet to be established. This is why the data cannot be fully utilized for stabilizing agricultural supply and prices.

According to National Audit materials from the office of Song Ok-ju, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea on the National Assembly's Committee on Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Fisheries and Ocean, submitted on the 15th, Nonghyup Financial Holdings holds financial transaction and credit/asset data through its banking, insurance, and securities divisions. Sales data from Haeinuo Mart and consumer information from NH Membership are accumulated in the Economic Holdings division. Regional agricultural and livestock cooperatives and cooperative joint corporations secure production volumes, shipment quantities, grades, and local market prices through Agricultural Product Distribution Centers (APCs), Rice Processing Complexes (RPCs), and other facilities.

Although they possess data that allows for a view of virtually the entire process—from agricultural production to local shipments, wholesale prices, and Haeinuo Mart consumption—critics point out that "data fragmentation" is severe because management is divided by organization, including the Central Association, Economic Holdings, Financial Holdings, and regional agricultural and livestock cooperatives. It is difficult to analyze collectively how much of a specific agricultural product will be produced this year, how much will be shipped from which regions, and whether consumption is increasing or decreasing. Consequently, opportunities to reduce price volatility in agricultural products—such as identifying potential supply surpluses or shortages in advance and informing farmers of appropriate shipment times—are not fully leveraged. Song (Rep.) plans to focus questioning on the issue of integrating big data across the Nonghyup group during the National Audit of the Nonghyup Central Association on the 16th.

Nonghyup has not been idle in its data business. Following the construction of NHVIXX Query in 2017, it launched N-Hub in 2023, a platform covering agricultural and distribution data. It also provides services such as comprehensive information on agricultural and livestock products, Haeinuo Mart sales analysis, and smart farm guides.

In March of this year, the cooperative introduced CDC (Change Data Capture) technology based on Oracle GoldenGate into its next-generation mutual finance information system, laying the foundation for real-time linkage of data from agricultural and livestock cooperatives nationwide. Since last year, it has also been promoting the construction of a group-wide integrated data infrastructure to standardize data across its financial affiliates.

Nevertheless, there is still no "one-stop" integrated platform that connects Nonghyup's entire financial, distribution, and agricultural data from production to consumption, going beyond individual systems. In particular, unlike general financial or distribution companies, Nonghyup simultaneously holds data on agricultural production, finance, and distribution, making the impact of data integration significant.

By analyzing production volumes, local shipment quantities, wholesale prices, and Haeinuo Mart sales together, it is possible to identify potential agricultural supply surpluses or shortages earlier. This can provide farmers with reference materials for deciding on cultivation items and shipment times, and can be utilized by the government and local governments in formulating supply and demand countermeasures.

Song (Rep.) emphasized, "Nonghyup has secured a broad data network ranging from agricultural production to auction houses at local and wholesale markets, Haeinuo Mart, and information related to farmland and agricultural materials," adding, "This should be integrated to provide high-quality information stably to the government, local governments, farmers, consumers, and distributors."