"Access Year-End Tax Settlement in 3 Seconds" New National Certificate PASS Aims for the Throne

[Asia Economy Reporter Joselgina] "Free issuance in 3 seconds, done with two taps."

With just a few days left before year-end tax settlement for office workers, the three mobile carriers have launched a campaign to promote simplified year-end tax settlement through the ‘PASS’ application. It features easy issuance without separate account verification while maximizing security with two-step authentication. The ‘war for the throne’ among private certificates aiming to take the place of the national certificate, including PASS, has also begun.

According to SK Telecom, KT, and LG Uplus on the 13th, customers using the PASS certificate for year-end tax settlement on the 15th can select ‘Simple Authentication Login’ on the National Tax Service Hometax site and then choose ‘PASS Certificate’ for easy access. By entering only their name, resident registration number, and mobile phone number, the PASS app on their smartphone automatically generates an authentication popup. At this time, the user completes identity verification in a simple way through a 6-digit PIN or biometric authentication. This is one step simpler than other private certificates such as Naver, Kakao, and Toss.

In particular, the three mobile carriers simplified the usage method of customers’ PASS certificates while maximizing security functions to protect customer information. A representative from the three companies said, "At issuance, we verify subscribers who are properly activated with the carrier, and perform two-step authentication including device authentication based on USIM information, terminal authentication, and IP checks," emphasizing, "PASS is the only domestic electronic signature service with two-step authentication."

Additionally, they implemented the highest level of security in Korea through white-box encryption technology that encrypts certificate information and stores it in the secure area inside the mobile phone. The ‘white-box encryption solution’ guarantees a higher level of security by storing the private key in the smartphone’s Secure Element (SE).

Unlike the public certificate that had to be renewed every year, the PASS certificate can be used for three years once issued. Even if the device or carrier changes, the certificate can be easily reissued. Currently, the cumulative number of PASS certificate issuances reaches 22 million.

The reason the three mobile carriers are actively promoting the convenience and stability of PASS is to get ahead in the war among more than 10 private certificates triggered by the year-end tax settlement. Besides PASS, competitors include KakaoPay (Kakao) based on KakaoTalk, Naver Certification (Naver), Toss (Viva Republica), and Payco (NHN Payco). Among these, only PASS, Samsung Pass, KB Mobile Certificate, NHN Payco, and Kakao Wallet are allowed for this year’s year-end tax settlement as selected by the government.

Meanwhile, the three mobile carriers are giving away prizes such as iPhone 12, AirPods Pro, and Starbucks mobile gift certificates through a lottery to customers who issue PASS certificates by the 14th. Also, from the 15th, the start of the year-end tax settlement period, until the 19th of next month, customers who use the Hometax service with the PASS certificate will be entered into a lottery to win prizes such as iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPad Air 4, and department store gift certificates.

The three mobile carriers stated, "With the abolition of the public certificate system and the activation of electronic signatures, the three carriers plan to continuously enhance customer convenience by expanding the application of PASS certificates not only to public services but also to numerous private services based on stable business capabilities."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.