Check Your Driver's License with Naver App and KakaoTalk

'Mobile Driver's License Verification' Obtains Temporary Approval Under Regulatory Sandbox

[Asia Economy Reporter Jin-gyu Lee] It is now possible to verify a driver's license through the Naver application and KakaoTalk.

On the 3rd, Naver and Kakao announced that they have obtained temporary approval for the 'Mobile Driver's License Verification Service' through the ICT Regulatory Sandbox of the Ministry of Science and ICT.

The mobile driver's license verification service allows users to prove their driving qualifications and identity using a smartphone registered under their name. Once the driver's license is registered on the smartphone, it can be accessed anytime when verification is needed. The verification screen only displays the driver's license photo, an authentication QR code, and a barcode, minimizing unnecessary exposure of personal information. Additionally, the driver's license information registered by the user is cross-checked with the information in the Police Agency's driver's license system, ensuring high reliability.

Naver plans to provide the mobile driver's license verification service within this year through 'Naver Certificate.' The Naver app is expected to be used for verifying electronic documents issued by local governments and institutions, driver's license verification, and age verification at convenience stores. Naver stated, "The process of accessing the Naver Certificate incorporates our login security technology, PKI-based encryption technology, and blockchain technology to prevent forgery and tampering, allowing safe use."

Regarding the driver's license verification page, efforts will be made to protect user information, including reviewing capture prevention technology. Oh Kyung-soo, the leader in charge of Naver Certificate and electronic document services, said, "We will do our best to establish the Naver app as a lifestyle-oriented service that provides convenience and safety simultaneously in various moments of users' daily lives."

KakaoTalk/Photo by KakaoTalk Blog Capture

Kakao also plans to launch the KakaoTalk mobile driver's license verification service within this year. The KakaoTalk driver's license verification service securely stores driver's license information within KakaoTalk installed on the smartphone, allowing users to carry it digitally. To prevent forgery and tampering, the issuance information is recorded on the blockchain, applying Kakao's highest-level security technology.

Within KakaoTalk, the physical driver's license is photographed to verify identity information consistency, and KakaoBank's identity verification technology is used to confirm the authenticity of the ID through the Police Agency and the Road Traffic Authority. The verified driver's license information is encrypted along with an electronic signature, registered in KakaoTalk, and recorded on the blockchain. When presenting and using the issued ID, the electronic signature is used to verify the identity.

In the future, besides mobile driver's licenses, various IDs and certificates such as the National Technical Professional Certificates from the Human Resources Development Service of Korea will be stored in KakaoTalk. A Kakao official stated, "We are discussing partnerships with various organizations, foundations, companies, and educational institutions that require mobile identity and qualification verification services."