Hancom Wins First Overseas AI Contract...Supplies Facial Recognition Technology for Japan's Public Authentication

Supplying Facial Recognition Technology "Hancom Auth" to Japan's Cyberlinks

Hancom has recorded its first overseas revenue in the artificial intelligence (AI) sector, opening the door to its entry into the global AI market.

Kim Yeonsu, CEO of Hancom. Provided by Hancom.

Hancom announced on the 19th that it has signed a supply contract with Japan's Cyberlinks for its AI facial recognition solution "Hancom Auth." This marks the first case in which Hancom's strategy to secure global AI technology and expand exports has translated into overseas sales.

Cyberlinks is a mid-sized IT company listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Standard Market that provides cloud services specialized for the public and distribution sectors in Japan. In particular, as a platform operator for the public personal authentication service (JPKI) that utilizes the Japanese government's official ID, the "My Number Card," it has established a strong position in the fields of identity verification and trust services in Japan.

Through this contract, Cyberlinks has selected Hancom as a strategic partner and will work to advance its non-face-to-face electronic Know Your Customer (eKYC) services. By adopting Hancom's technology, Cyberlinks plans to conduct sales activities targeting existing corporate and local government customers using its cloud services, as well as new clients, with the goal of increasing its share in Japan's eKYC market.

Hancom Auth is a solution developed based on the technology of Facephi, a Spanish AI biometrics company. In 2024, Hancom made a strategic investment in Facephi and secured exclusive business rights for the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. Since then, Hancom and Hancomwith have worked together to internalize the technology and rebrand it. Hancom Auth incorporates facial recognition technology capable of detecting forged or tampered fake faces in real time, enabling it to respond to deepfake threats.

View of Hangeulgwa Keompyuteo headquarters. Provided by Hangeulgwa Keompyuteo

In Japan, demand for non-face-to-face authentication and security solutions is currently increasing across various industries, including finance, public, and distribution. Hancom plans to accelerate its entry into the local market on the back of this contract. To that end, it intends to swiftly finalize the establishment of a joint venture (JV) with Japan's Kiraboshi Financial Group, which is currently underway. Going forward, Hancom plans to manage its Japanese market revenue through this JV as a base and carry out order-winning activities in sectors such as finance and public services.

Hancom CEO Kim Yeonsu said, "The collaboration with Cyberlinks, which leads Japan's public authentication ecosystem, is both proof and the first tangible result that Hancom's AI technology has been recognized in the global security market, particularly in the Japanese market where trust is paramount," adding, "We will actively target the global AI security market."

Meanwhile, the facial recognition market is expected to grow every year in line with advances in AI technology. According to global market research firm Fortune Business Insights, the global facial recognition market is projected to reach 10.13 billion dollars (about 14.7 trillion won) this year. This represents growth of approximately 14.7% compared with the previous year's 8.83 billion dollars (about 12.81 trillion won). The firm forecasts that the global facial recognition market will expand to 30.52 billion dollars (about 44.28 trillion won) by 2034.