If You Register Your Driver's License on Samsung Pay, No ID Needed for Voting

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Samsung Pay will incorporate a mobile ID function and expand its features. The application (app) name will also change to Samsung Wallet. Once a driver's license is registered, it is expected to be used for voter identification in the parliamentary election scheduled for next month.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety and Samsung Electronics held a mobile ID Samsung Wallet launch event on the 20th at the flagship store Samsung Gangnam, declaring the start of Samsung Wallet services for 'Mobile Driver's License' and 'Mobile National Veterans Registration Card,' mobile IDs with the same legal effect as physical IDs.

The event was attended by Lee Sang-min, Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, Ko Jin, Chairman of the Digital Platform Government Committee, and No Tae-moon, President of Samsung Electronics MX Division.

Earlier, in October last year, Samsung Electronics signed a business agreement with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety to promote the use of mobile IDs. They promised to cooperate in developing technology to safely and conveniently use mobile IDs on Galaxy smartphones through security solutions.

At the launch event, use cases were demonstrated using the 'Mobile ID' embedded in the Samsung Wallet of the Galaxy S24 series, such as ▲age verification through QR codes of mobile IDs at offline stores like cafes and convenience stores ▲real-time identity verification with a mobile driver's license in overseas remittance apps followed by sending money to overseas users.

Samsung Electronics Newsroom video capture

The mobile driver's license is expected to be used for voter identification in the parliamentary election to be held on the 10th of next month, as well as in public institutions and financial institutions where identity verification is required.

The mobile ID issued through Samsung Wallet is authenticated in real-time by linking with the mobile ID blockchain each time it is used, and related personal information is stored through Samsung Electronics' mobile platform, Samsung Knox.

President No Tae-moon said, "The launch of Samsung Wallet's 'Mobile ID' service will be a catalyst for the development of a wallet-less society where people can safely and conveniently enjoy daily life with Galaxy smartphones," adding, "We will actively support the realization of the digital platform government by expanding the types of IDs such as resident registration cards and collaborate with various partners to provide a unique Samsung Wallet experience."

Minister Lee Sang-min said, "We will further expand the opening and collaboration of public services to the private sector so that the rich creativity of the private sector can lead to innovations for the lives of the people," and added, "We will do our best to ensure that the digital platform government continues to be more helpful to the people and becomes a new driving force for our economy."

Meanwhile, Samsung Electronics will change the name of Samsung Pay to 'Samsung Wallet' (abbreviated as Samwol) and will actively evolve it into a comprehensive electronic wallet service that supports various lifestyles beyond mobile payments.

Samsung Wallet currently offers various functions including mobile payments and ATM usage, as well as ▲tickets ▲memberships ▲coupons ▲digital keys ▲mobile IDs ▲boarding passes ▲digital assets ▲issuance of electronic certificates.

Samsung Electronics will proceed with app updates sequentially from the 20th. Once the update is complete, the app icon on smartphones will change, and Samsung Wallet will be displayed at the top when launched. Even after this service name change, the online and offline payment service name will remain Samsung Pay.

Launched domestically in August 2015, Samsung Pay currently has over 17 million domestic subscribers and has recorded a cumulative payment amount of approximately 300 trillion won.