Ministry of Science and ICT Certifies SKT as New Authorized Electronic Document Intermediary

Increased Demand for Certified Electronic Document Intermediary Authentication, Expected Activation of Electronic Documents

[Asia Economy Reporter Eunmo Koo] The Ministry of Science and ICT announced on the 10th that it has certified SK Telecom as a new authorized electronic document intermediary (intermediary).

An intermediary is an entity that sends, receives, or intermediates (distributes) electronic documents on behalf of others. To ensure the stability and reliability of electronic document distribution, only those meeting the personnel, facilities, equipment, financial, and technical capability requirements under the “Electronic Documents and Electronic Transactions Act (Electronic Documents Act)” could be designated.

Last year, the Ministry of Science and ICT passed an amendment to the Electronic Documents Act to relax the requirements necessary for legal recognition, allowing innovative small and medium enterprises with new technologies to become intermediaries. This case is the first certification since the intermediary system was changed. With SK Telecom’s certification as an intermediary, the number of intermediaries has expanded from seven to eight, including Duzon Bizon, Postopia, I&Tech, Kakao Pay, KT, Naver, and NHN Payco.

When electronic documents are distributed through intermediaries, information such as the name of the electronic document, the date and time of sending, receiving, and viewing, and the sender and receiver can be verified by obtaining a distribution certificate (valid for up to 10 years). Therefore, the intermediary system can be usefully applied to electronic document distribution requiring proof of history.

The Ministry of Science and ICT stated, “Currently, due to the transition to a certification system for intermediaries, the spread of mobile electronic notification services, and expectations for the creation of new services and markets such as electronic wallets, demand for new intermediary certifications is rapidly increasing.” It added, “We will support intermediary certification through customized consulting for companies to secure various electronic document distribution channels and create a user-friendly electronic document distribution environment based on new technologies.”

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