Resident Registration Card on Smartphones... Ministry of the Interior and Safety Launches Pilot Operation of 'Resident Registration Card Mobile Verification Service'

Identity Verification via Smartphone Even Without a Physical Resident Registration Card

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] From now on, identity verification will be possible through the smartphone “Resident Registration Card Mobile Verification Service” even without a physical resident registration card at airports, passenger terminals, convenience stores, and more.

On the 28th, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced that starting from the 29th, it will pilot the “Resident Registration Card Mobile Verification Service” using the ‘Government24’ Android app. The “Resident Registration Card Mobile Verification Service” is a service that displays the information recorded on the resident registration card along with a QR code on the smartphone screen without the physical card and verifies its authenticity to confirm identity.

According to the revised Resident Registration Act, identity verification using the “Resident Registration Card Mobile Verification Service” has the same effect as verifying the physical resident registration card. It can be used ▲when submitting civil service documents or issuing certificates recognizing qualifications ▲when confirming adult status in daily life such as at convenience stores or restaurants ▲when identity verification of passengers is required at airports or passenger terminals ▲when confirming identity during contracts or transactions between individuals.

To use the “Resident Registration Card Mobile Verification Service,” you must first register (sign up) for the service on a smartphone under your own name. Biometric authentication information such as fingerprints or facial recognition can be additionally registered, and to ensure reliability of identity verification, the service cannot be used if the resident registration has been canceled or if the physical resident registration card cannot be used normally due to loss or other reasons.

The “Resident Registration Card Mobile Verification Service” was designed not only to provide a convenient identity verification method but also with thorough personal information protection and security in mind. The basic screen displays only the name, part of the address, date of birth, and identity verification QR code to minimize exposure of personal information. The resident registration number and exact address can be checked on the detailed information screen after biometric authentication such as fingerprint or facial recognition. To prevent theft, lending, and forgery, the service can only be used on one smartphone under the user’s name, and it includes functions to block screen capture and to reset the QR code after a certain period of time, reducing the risk of fraudulent use.

The resident registration card information displayed on the smartphone can be verified for authenticity by scanning the QR code of the mobile verification service in the ‘Fact and Authenticity Verification’ menu of the Government24 app or by using the verification API through each business operation system.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety signed a business agreement with the three major telecommunications companies last February to strengthen the security and promote the use of the “Resident Registration Card Mobile Verification Service.” In accordance with the revised Resident Registration Act, the Ministry plans to provide the pilot service ahead of the full-scale launch of the “Resident Registration Card Mobile Verification Service” on the 12th of next month, to check and improve any inconveniences that may occur on various mobile devices and stabilize the service.

Deputy Minister Han Chang-seop said, “Once the Resident Registration Card Mobile Verification Service is implemented as a digital identity proof, the inconvenience of having to always carry a physical resident registration card will be resolved, and the risk of loss will be reduced, greatly lowering the risk of personal information leakage and forgery.” He added, “During the pilot service period, we will listen carefully to public opinions on any inconveniences or improvements needed and take swift action to make it a better service loved by the people.”

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