Starting from the 27th, “mobile resident registration cards” will be issued on a trial basis in nine regions, including Sejong City and Goyang City.
During the trial period, only residents whose registered addresses are within the designated trial areas can apply for the mobile resident registration card at their local community centers. The traditional resident registration card will be replaced with an IC chip-embedded card, allowing it to be recognized by a smartphone or issued via QR code.
In the future, all citizens over the age of 17 can have their resident registration cards stored and used on their smartphones. Originally first issued on paper in 1968, the resident registration card is undergoing a digital transformation after 56 years.
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced that starting from the 27th, a “mobile resident registration card,” the national ID for all citizens, will be issued on a trial basis. To ensure a stable introduction, the trial will first take place in nine local municipalities, including Sejong Special Self-Governing City and Goyang City, to verify system stability and nationwide issuance is planned for the first quarter of next year.
The trial regions for the mobile resident registration card include Sejong, Gangwon Hongcheon County, Gyeonggi Goyang City, Gyeongnam Geochang County, Daejeon Seo District, Daegu Gunwi County, Ulsan Ulju County, Jeonnam Yeosu City, and Jeonnam Yeongam County.
During the trial issuance period, residents whose registered addresses are in the trial regions can visit their local community centers to receive an “IC resident registration card.” This card can be used to apply for a mobile card by either scanning it with a smartphone or by requesting a QR code issuance.
The IC resident registration card is a newly introduced card designed for the convenience of issuing mobile resident registration cards. Although it looks similar to the existing card, it includes an IC chip that allows it to be recognized by smartphones.
If you change your phone or delete the app, you can reissue the mobile registration card without visiting the community center as long as you have the IC resident registration card. However, there is a fee of 10,000 won for issuing the IC resident registration card.
QR issuance is done by visiting the community center and photographing a one-time QR code generated for the mobile registration card issuance. The QR code issuance is free, and the mobile resident registration card can be issued immediately. However, if you change your phone or delete the app, you will need to visit the community center again to receive a new mobile registration card.
When applying for an IC resident registration card, you need to submit a photo taken within the last six months. For QR issuance, a photo submission is not necessary, but if the photo on the card is outdated, it might not support facial recognition in the mobile ID app, limiting your ability to issue a mobile card. In this case, submit a recent photo (taken within six months) to reissue the physical card before applying for the mobile version.
The mobile resident registration card, issued in accordance with the Resident Registration Act, serves as a legal identification on personal smartphones. It can be applied for by all citizens holding a resident registration card, including first issuers, and can be used in various places substituting the traditional card like public institutions, financial facilities, convenience stores, and hospitals.
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety emphasized that “the mobile resident registration card applies blockchain and encryption technology to prevent personal information leakage and misuse, ensuring a high level of security.” It is issued only to the individual’s smartphone and can be locked in case of a loss report, preventing unauthorized use and personal information leakage.
To prevent excessive exposure of personal information, it only shows the individual’s name and birth date for age verification purposes for purchasing tobacco or alcohol.
Ko Ki-dong, Vice Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, stated, “Following the introduction of the resident registration card in 1968, we have made a groundbreaking transition by incorporating digital technology, ushering in a new era,” adding, “Through the mobile resident registration card trial issuance, we will thoroughly address any inconveniences in advance so that all citizens can use it with ease and confidence when fully rolled out.”