"Forged IDs Easily Bypass Convenience Stores, Bars, and Motels... Delinquency Encouraged for Hundreds of Thousands of Won"

"Can be used like an app at convenience stores and bars anywhere. 24-hour production available. Please inquire."

On social networking services (SNS), the sophisticated production and sale of forged IDs is on the rise. Not only does this encourage delinquent behavior among teenagers and lead to serious crimes such as forgery of official documents, but recently, these forged IDs have also been exploited in larger-scale crimes like real estate fraud, raising calls for urgent crackdowns.

A notice stating "No entry without ID card, driver's license, or passport" is posted on the entrance door of a store in Mapo-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jaehyun Park

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On April 28, searching for keywords such as "ID forgery" or "ID card production" on X (formerly Twitter), Telegram, and other platforms revealed dozens of posts selling forged IDs. The vendors claim that their IDs can perfectly deceive identity checks at convenience stores, bars, karaoke rooms, as well as when transferring concert tickets or entering pre-recorded TV shows.

When contacting these vendors through Telegram messages, it was found that the price typically ranges in the hundreds of thousands of won. One vendor stated, "A physical ID card is 250,000 won, and a driver's license is 300,000 won," emphasizing that these are the lowest prices in the industry. Some vendors even claim to replicate holograms to closely resemble real IDs and offer delivery via courier.

Mobile IDs can also be easily forged. When accessing a link sent by a fake mobile ID seller, a screen mimicking the Government24 mobile ID interface appeared. A representative explained, "If you enter your name, issue date, resident registration number, and address, you can use it anytime at convenience stores, bars, motels, and other places."

Such forged IDs stimulate delinquent behavior among teenagers by providing a means to engage in activities such as purchasing alcohol and cigarettes. Although recent legal revisions allow business owners to avoid penalties such as business suspension if it is deemed that they have properly verified IDs, it is becoming increasingly difficult to detect forgeries at the scene due to the high level of sophistication. Park Myungkyu (70), who operates a convenience store in Mapo-gu, Seoul, said, "If someone deliberately brings in a forged ID that closely mimics the hologram and texture of a real one, there's no way to tell."

When searching for keywords related to 'ID forgery' on social networking services (SNS), numerous sales accounts and posts uploaded by forgery companies appeared in a row. Screenshot of X (formerly Twitter).

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The bigger problem is that such forged IDs have recently been used as tools for fraud in real estate transactions. The method involves fabricating a fake ID with the property owner's personal information, along with a fake lease contract, then requesting an urgent sale through a broker, stealing the deposit, and disappearing. As cases of such fraud have been reported, the Korea Association of Realtors issued a notice on April 7 warning members to be vigilant.

Under current law, the purchase or use of forged IDs constitutes a serious crime. Forging an official document (such as a fake ID) and using or purchasing such forged documents are each punishable by up to 10 years in prison. There are no provisions for fines, meaning that a guilty verdict leads directly to imprisonment-a testament to the gravity of the crime.

However, there are concerns that the threshold for crime has become lower for teenagers, as actual prison sentences are rarely imposed. Lawyer Kwak Junho of Cheong Law Firm noted, "Legally, this qualifies as a serious crime that allows for prison sentences, but teenagers are often given warnings or suspended indictments, which has lowered the threshold for committing these offenses."

Government24 mobile ID screen (left) and forged mobile ID screen (right). The forged ID allows screen capture, whereas the Government24 ID does not allow capture. Photo by Jaehyun Park

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There are also concerns about the potential for secondary crimes and victimization using forged IDs. During the process of creating a fake ID, the photos, resident registration numbers, and other personal information handed over to the vendor-whether belonging to oneself or someone else-can be exploited in crimes such as voice phishing and romance scams. In fact, during the reporting process, one ID forgery vendor was seen posting a customer's name, address, birthdate, and resident registration number in a Telegram public group as retaliation for not making payment on time.

Kwak Daekyung, professor at Dongguk University's College of Police and Criminal Justice, stated, "If you use someone else's personal information to produce or order a forged ID, you can be charged not only with document forgery and use of forged documents, but also with violating the Personal Information Protection Act, which may result in even harsher penalties. There is also a risk of secondary crimes such as romance scams."

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