South Korea Rolling Out New Digital IDs

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

SEOUL (Worthy News) – Despite political turmoil, South Korea rang in the New Year with a digital pledge to citizens aged 17 and over: They will soon be able to store their resident registration cards on their smartphones.

A trial has begun in nine regions across the country, with the Ministry of Interior and Safety evaluating the system’s stability before expanding the program nationwide by March, officials said.

The ministry announced that these new “mobile [identification documents or] IDs” use “blockchain and encryption” technologies to keep personal information “safe” and avoid fraud.

Observers called it a milestone moment as South Korea seeks to dump its traditional physical ID system introduced in 1968, a development closely watched by other Asian nations.

Worthy News learned that in late 2023, when South Korea prepared to expand its digital ID toolbox, some 15 government officials from Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s largest economy, visited the country to study its digitalization efforts.

“The age of digitalization has presented countries around the globe with unique opportunities and challenges. For Indonesia, the introduction of a digital ID system is not just a technological advancement but a strategic necessity,” the World Bank Group said in a statement seen by Worthy News.

“It promises to revolutionize how citizens interact with government services, enhance the efficiency of public service delivery, and significantly improve data security and integrity,” it argued.

INDONESIA INTERESTED

“By adopting a digital ID system, Indonesia can streamline administrative processes, bolster economic growth, and ensure a more inclusive and equitable access to government services for its diverse population,” the World Bank Group added.

This is the fourth type of mobile identification card issued by the South Korean government, following the mobile driver’s license, the national veterans’ registration card, and the overseas Korean identification card, which have all been introduced since 2021.

The nine regions included in the latest test of digital car registration include

Sejong City, HongCheon County in Gangwon Province, Goyang City in Gyeonggi Province, Geochang County in South Gyeongsang Province, Seo-gu District in Daejeon, Gunwi County in Daegu, Ulju County in Ulsan as well as Yeosu city, and Yeongnam county in South Jeolla province, officials said.

Although critics expressed concern about privacy issues, the digitalization of IDs seems unstoppable in Southeast Asia.

There were no indications Sunday that the launch of a new digital ID system in South Korea was undermined by a standoff between the country’s military and forces of impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol.

South Korean investigators have again asked the country’s acting president to order the presidential security service to comply with an arrest warrant for Yoon over his brief declaration of martial law last month.

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