Facial Recognition Required for Mobile Activation... Will This End Burner Phones?

Official Implementation Set for March Next Year
Pilot Program Begins for Major Carriers and MVNOs

The government will introduce facial recognition as an additional step in the mobile phone activation process to block "burner phones" that are being exploited for financial fraud, such as voice phishing. The three major mobile carriers and MVNOs will begin pilot operations ahead of the official implementation scheduled for March next year.

A banner advertising mobile phone discounts is hanging at a mobile phone store in Seoul.

The Ministry of Science and ICT announced that starting December 23, facial recognition will be piloted as part of the identity verification process at 64 non-face-to-face channels of 43 MVNOs and at in-person activation counters of the three major mobile carriers. This pilot program will run for three months, and even if facial recognition fails, activation will be exceptionally permitted. Facial data collected during the process will only be used for identity verification and will not be stored separately.

Until now, mobile phone activation has relied on verifying the authenticity of an ID card to confirm the user's identity. Going forward, facial recognition will be added, comparing the photo on the ID card with the user's real-time facial image to prevent identity theft and illegal activations. This measure is expected to make it more difficult to activate burner phones using someone else's ID or just leaked personal information.

As of November this year, there have been 21,588 reported cases of voice phishing, with damages totaling 1.133 trillion won, the highest on record. Experts point out that since burner phones are used as tools for crime, it is urgent to strengthen management at the activation stage.

Facial recognition will be provided using the PASS app, and even those who have not registered for the app can use the service. The new measure will apply to new activations, number portability, device changes, and name changes using resident registration cards and driver's licenses, and will later be expanded to include national merit cards, disability registration cards, and more.

Additionally, the government will pursue institutional reforms to eradicate burner phones. During the activation process, users will be informed about the illegality and criminal risks associated with burner phones, and responsibility for managing fraudulent activations at agencies and retail stores will be assigned to the mobile carriers. Businesses that neglect their management obligations will face sanctions such as suspension of operations or revocation of registration.