Facial Authentication Required for Mobile Phone Activation; Concerns Over Data Leaks Addressed

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Starting today, July 6, identity verification procedures for mobile phone activation have been strengthened, now requiring facial authentication. This measure is designed to prevent illegal activations using stolen identities and the distribution of illicit burner phones.

Reporter Park Jaehyeon has the story.

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When activating a new mobile phone, users are now required to undergo a facial authentication process alongside presenting their identification.

[Please perform a facial scan.]

Following a pilot period that concluded last month, the facial authentication process is now mandatory for all new mobile phone activations, running concurrently with ID verification.

The existing method of verifying identity solely through ID cards had limitations in preventing crimes such as non-face-to-face financial transactions using stolen identities, the distribution of burner phones, and voice phishing.

[Choi Woo-hyuk, Director General of Information Protection and Network Policy at the Ministry of Science and ICT (June 30): We will also strengthen activation screening, such as by partially restricting installment plans for high-end devices for high-risk groups.]

If a user faces difficulties with facial authentication, they can use a mobile ID issued by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety or a resident registration abstract issued on the same day as an alternative.

However, facial authentication is not required when simply switching devices within the same carrier.

While these multi-layered verification procedures have reduced concerns over identity theft, some have raised concerns that personal facial authentication data could be leaked.

Consequently, government agencies including the Personal Information Protection Commission and the National Human Rights Commission of Korea have recommended that the Ministry of Science and ICT address issues such as the lack of a legal basis for collecting biometric data and the need for alternative verification methods.

The Ministry of Science and ICT explained that biometric information is destroyed immediately after identity verification and that no vulnerabilities related to data leaks were found during pre-launch inspections. The ministry added that it will clarify the legal basis for facial authentication through an enforcement decree of the Telecommunications Business Act.

(Video Editing: Choi Hye-ran)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.