[Asia Economy Reporter Seol Gina Jo] From now on, adult drivers will be able to prove their identity when purchasing alcohol and cigarettes at convenience stores using a mobile driver's license based on the smartphone application 'PASS' instead of a resident registration card. Starting in July, it will also be possible to use it as an ID instead of a driver's license when renewing or reissuing a driver's license.
The three major mobile carriers and the National Police Agency announced on the 23rd that they will launch the ‘PASS Mobile Driver's License Verification Service.’ This is the first case in Korea to commercialize a digital official ID.
Last year, the three carriers obtained temporary approval through the ICT regulatory sandbox of the Ministry of Science and ICT and combined their capabilities to introduce the mobile driver's license. Based on PASS, which has about 30 million subscribers, rapid expansion is possible, and it is considered a strength that personal information can be protected through the carriers' customer support and security solutions.
The PASS Mobile Driver's License Verification Service can only be used on one smartphone under the user's name through one carrier. Capture prevention technology is applied to the screen displaying the QR code and barcode to protect customer personal information.
On the basic screen, only the driver's license photo and authentication QR code barcode are displayed to minimize unnecessary exposure of personal information such as date of birth and address. An always-moving animation is applied above the authentication screen to block capturing of the QR code and barcode, and the code is reset after a certain period to reduce the risk of theft.
The three carriers utilized various advanced ICT security technologies to protect personal information and prevent forgery and alteration. When registering a driver's license in the ‘PASS’ app, authentication of the user's line ownership and device possession is conducted, and the authenticity of the driver's license photo, license number, and identification number is simultaneously verified. In particular, by using blockchain technology to link the ‘PASS’ service with the National Police Agency's driver's license system, the actual license photo registered with the National Police Agency and the Road Traffic Authority is registered in the app, effectively blocking attempts to forge or alter the license using someone else's photo or information, according to the carriers.
An industry official said, "All information of the registered driver's license is encrypted and stored in the secure area within the user's smartphone," adding, "Only the minimum personal identification information necessary to identify the natural person for service operation is stored and managed, reducing concerns about misuse of personal information."
The ‘PASS Mobile Driver's License Verification Service’ will first be used as an ID for verifying minors at all CU and GS25 convenience stores nationwide. Starting in July, it will also be usable like a driver's license at 27 driver's license examination centers nationwide. It enhances convenience by allowing users to present the ‘PASS’ app instead of an ID when renewing or reissuing a driver's license or issuing an English driver's license.
The National Police Agency is also considering applying the ‘PASS Mobile Driver's License Verification Service’ to frontline police administration such as traffic police inspections. The rental car and shared mobility industries, which frequently use non-face-to-face applications, are also considering applying the ‘PASS Mobile Driver's License Verification Service.’
The three carriers stated, "We have become the first in the world to provide a nationwide digital driver's license verification service in Korea," and added, "We will continue to expand the areas of use and advance the service so that the ‘PASS Mobile Driver's License Verification Service’ can be widely used for non-face-to-face identity verification and mobile financial transactions, which have surged due to the spread of untact culture."
The three carriers plan to hold the ‘PASS Summit 2020 Online Conference’ on the 24th to officially announce the launch of the ‘PASS Driver's License Verification Service.’
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