[Blockchain Digital ID Innovation③] Mobile ID, Ecosystem Activation Through Public-Private Cooperation

Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min (third from the right) attended the Samsung Wallet opening event for the private release of mobile ID cards. / Photo by Ministry of the Interior and Safety

South Korea's government mobile ID, recognized worldwide as a best practice for blockchain-based digital identification, is expected to significantly expand its user base by offering more innovative public services and fostering a diverse economic ecosystem through the opening of its platform to private apps.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety, which issued the mobile driver's license in early 2022 and the mobile national veterans registration card since June 2023, launched a pilot service on March 20 allowing issuance of these mobile IDs through the Samsung Wallet app (formerly Samsung Pay). As a result, Samsung smartphone users can now use mobile IDs via Samsung Wallet without downloading the government’s dedicated ‘Mobile ID’ app.

According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, as of February before the private app opening, approximately 2.21 million mobile driver's licenses and about 10,000 mobile national veterans registration cards had been issued. Samsung Wallet alone, the first private app to integrate mobile IDs, has around 17 million domestic subscribers. The Ministry plans to expand mobile ID services to various other private apps, which is expected to greatly increase the number of issued mobile IDs and their usage rates.

Thanks to the large subscriber bases of private apps, not only will the number of issued IDs increase, but linking with app features such as payment functions and partner benefits will enable even more innovative services. This is anticipated to further activate mobile ID usage.

For example, previously, national veterans had to pay the full ticket price upfront when booking movies remotely, then present their ID at the theater to receive a refund of the discounted amount on-site. With mobile IDs integrated into private apps, veterans can now verify their status remotely via mobile ID and complete payment at the discounted price all at once, saving time.

Additionally, depending on private app companies’ own partnerships, users can enjoy various lifestyle convenience benefits. For instance, when using services such as partner stores offering age-based discounts, academies, ticket purchases, and various memberships, users can simultaneously verify their identity and receive discounts through private apps.

Embedding mobile IDs in private apps thus makes identity verification for various economic activities and service usage more convenient. As mobile IDs spread to more private apps in the future, the potential to create a richer and more diverse mobile ID economic ecosystem will increase through each app’s own promotions, service integrations, and partnerships.

This expansion of mobile ID usage through public-private cooperation is expected to contribute to South Korea’s global leadership in blockchain digital ID. South Korea’s recognition as a leading country in blockchain-based mobile IDs is largely due to leveraging the excellent technology of private companies from the outset.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety’s mobile ID issuance system was built using blockchain digital ID technology by IT security and authentication platform company Raonsecure. Raonsecure developed the system using its blockchain-based decentralized identity (DID) platform, which consists of blockchain-based distributed server nodes resistant to data tampering and FIDO (biometric authentication) technology. Previously, Raonsecure’s technology was adopted by various institutions including the Ministry of the Interior and Safety’s mobile driver’s license, the Military Manpower Administration’s simple authentication app, and Sejong City’s autonomous vehicle platform, proving its technical capability and stability. Leveraging these proven cases, Raonsecure offers its blockchain-based identity and qualification authentication integrated platform as a Software as a Service (SaaS) called ‘OmniOne Digital ID,’ leading the implementation of various authentication service ecosystems across public sectors and diverse industries.

An industry insider stated, “South Korea’s emergence as a powerhouse in blockchain mobile IDs is the result of strong government commitment to digital government leadership combined with excellent private tech companies’ capabilities and a unique market position, creating synergy. Opening mobile IDs to private apps will further enhance this synergy and contribute to securing K-DID’s global leadership.”