South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT has extended the pilot program for facial recognition-based identity verification in mobile service activations until June 30, 2026, citing industry feedback and the need to support wider adoption of the technology.
The system, introduced in December, verifies a subscriber’s identity using face biometrics when activating new phone lines. It was designed to combat telecommunications fraud, including the use of stolen or borrowed identities to open mobile accounts without the account holder’s knowledge, a growing problem across East Asian mobile markets.
The original pilot was set to conclude this month, but the Ministry decided to extend the timeline after feedback from mobile carriers and industry stakeholders indicated that more time was needed to refine the technology, address technical issues encountered during the initial phase, and allow additional carriers to participate in the program.
Under the pilot, customers activating new phone lines at participating carriers are asked to complete a facial recognition scan as part of the identity verification process. The scan is compared against identity document data to confirm that the person activating the line matches the identity being registered. Carriers and technology vendors have been collecting data on accuracy rates, user experience across different demographics, and edge cases during the trial period.
South Korea has been an active adopter of biometric identity tools across several sectors. The country has also been expanding digital identity frameworks for financial services, including biometric verification systems aimed at improving access for foreign residents who face challenges navigating existing identification processes.
The extension has not resolved debate over the programme’s scope. Civil rights groups have raised concerns about the proportionality of requiring facial recognition for routine phone-line activations, the security of stored biometric data, and the potential for the pilot to transition into a permanent requirement without sufficient independent review of its effectiveness and error rates.
The Ministry has indicated that the results gathered during the extended pilot period will inform whether the facial recognition requirement becomes a permanent part of SIM registration in South Korea, is modified based on operational experience, or is discontinued.
Sources: Telecompaper, Mobile World Live
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By the ID Tech Editorial Team
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