Facial recognition to become ID verification option when registering new phone number

Korea will implement facial recognition technology during mobile phone registrations starting next month as a way to strengthen the identity verification process, the government announced on Tuesday.

The Ministry of Science and ICT unveiled the plan during a briefing in Seoul as part of broader efforts to prevent illegal activities, including mobile identity theft, when registering new mobile phone numbers.

Starting Monday, customers registering a new mobile phone number will be able to choose either facial recognition or other government-approved forms of identification, such as resident registration certificates, to verify their identity.

Facial recognition was made optional amid concerns over infringements of basic rights, the Science Ministry said.

Raw facial images will be discarded immediately after the verification process is completed to prevent potential data leaks, it added.

The government plans to expand the range of identity verification options while revising relevant laws by October to establish the legal basis for introducing facial recognition services.

Last year, the ministry announced a plan to make facial recognition mandatory for new mobile phone registrations, sparking public concerns following a series of data breaches in local mobile carriers.

State data protection and human rights authorities pointed out that the plan lacked a sufficient legal basis and could infringe on people's fundamental rights.

Yonhap