Driver's License Moves into Smartphones... The Era of Mobile IDs Begins

From the 27th, 'Mobile Driver's License' Pilot Issuance at Seoul Seobu and Daejeon Driver's License Test Centers

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The era of mobile identification cards is officially beginning as driver's licenses, which had to be carried in wallets, can now be stored and used on smartphones.

On the 27th, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the National Police Agency announced the pilot issuance of the first mobile ID for the public, the "Mobile Driver's License." The pilot issuance institutions include the Seoul Seobu Driver's License Examination Office, Daejeon Driver's License Examination Office, and police station civil service offices linked to these examination offices. After about six months of the pilot period, issuance will be expanded nationwide in July.

The government has been promoting the introduction of mobile IDs as a key task of digital government innovation due to ongoing issues with current plastic IDs such as inconvenience in carrying, ease of forgery, poor durability, and personal information exposure. Last year, mobile government employee IDs were issued to public officials to check safety and convenience.

The mobile driver's license is a driver's license issued on an individual's smartphone according to road traffic laws, additionally issued to those who hold a driver's license (including new licensees) and wish to receive it, and it holds the same legal effect as the current plastic driver's license. Therefore, mobile driver's licenses can be used wherever current driver's licenses are used, including public and financial institutions, rental car and car-sharing companies, airports, hospitals, convenience stores, liquor stores, passenger terminals, and accommodation facilities.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety stated that various security technologies such as blockchain and encryption have been applied to thoroughly ensure safety. It can only be issued to one device under the holder's name, and if reported lost, the mobile driver's license is locked and will not be displayed on the screen.

To ensure a high level of reliability, the initial issuance of the mobile driver's license requires an in-person identity verification visit to the driver's license examination office or police station civil service office. During the pilot issuance period, it can be obtained by visiting the Seoul Seobu Driver's License Examination Office, Daejeon Driver's License Examination Office, or linked police station civil service offices directly, and anyone can receive it regardless of their place of residence.

To issue a mobile driver's license, you must download and install the "Mobile ID (Driver's License)" app from the app market. You can choose between issuing it as an IC (integrated circuit) driver's license or visiting the driver's license examination office for on-site issuance.

The mobile driver's license can be used everywhere nationwide where the current driver's license is used, even during the pilot period. Those who want to verify identity, such as counter staff, can download and install the "Mobile ID Verification App" and scan the QR code of the mobile driver's license with the verification app to confirm the authenticity of the information.

From the 27th, when the mobile driver's license is issued, Woori Bank (bank), NICE Information & Telecommunication, Team O2 (rental car), Green Car (car sharing), Huikgo (kickboard), Plantynet (vending machine), and Korea Information Certification (certification) will provide convenience services using the mobile driver's license. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the National Police Agency plan to continuously discover and expand various convenience services using the mobile driver's license, such as public website identity verification and unmanned stores.

The introduction of the mobile driver's license is expected to improve public convenience and create innovative services. Carrying only the smartphone with the mobile driver's license eliminates the need to carry the current plastic driver's license separately, greatly reducing the inconvenience of carrying ID cards. In particular, it can be used not only on-site but also in non-face-to-face online environments, and various innovative services by companies using the mobile driver's license are also expected.

Going forward, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety plans to continuously expand mobile IDs to include national merit certificates, disability registration cards, youth IDs, and foreigner registration cards through consultations with related ministries, starting with the mobile driver's license.

Meanwhile, a mobile driver's license opening ceremony will be held at the Seoul Seobu Driver's License Examination Office on the same day. Minister Jeon Hae-cheol and Commissioner Kim Chang-ryong of the National Police Agency will demonstrate the issuance and use of the mobile driver's license at the event.

Jeon Hae-cheol, Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, said, "The mobile driver's license, which can be used both online and offline, is a safe and convenient innovative identity verification method and marks a very important milestone in opening the era of mobile IDs," adding, "We prioritized safety and convenience so that the public can use it with confidence." He added, "We expect that mobile IDs, starting with the mobile driver's license, will greatly contribute not only to improving public convenience but also to creating various non-face-to-face innovative services."

Kim Chang-ryong, Commissioner of the National Police Agency, said, "We expect the convenience of the public to be greatly improved through the mobile driver's license, and especially, if the mobile driver's license is expanded in the long term, it will play an important role in traffic safety by preventing vehicle rentals using someone else's driver's license," adding, "We will continue to identify and supplement areas that need improvement to provide more convenient and safe services to the public."

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