Less than 1% of foreign residents use mobile ID cards two months after launch

This photo shows a sample image of a mobile ID card for foreign nationals residing in Korea. Courtesy of Ministry of Justice

Two months after Korea introduced a mobile ID card for foreign residents, only about 4,500 people, or 0.23 percent, have so far obtained one, according to the Ministry of Justice.

In its recent response to The Korea Times' inquiries, the ministry stated that 4,560 foreign residents had obtained the mobile cards as of March 19. The new system, launched on Jan. 10, is part of the government's efforts to make personal ID verification more convenient for everyone living here, both citizens and noncitizens alike.

The number of long-term foreign residents in Korea surpassed 2 million in 2024, up from 1.88 million in 2023 and 1.69 million in 2022.

“The mobile residence card offers various benefits. It eliminates the inconvenience of carrying a physical ID card at all times and makes it more convenient for foreign residents to use ID-required services such as for financial transactions among others,” the ministry told The Korea Times. “As more people get to know more about the benefits, we expect the number of users to surge.”

This is part of a broader government effort to adopt modern technology for personal ID verification, which began with the introduction of the mobile driver’s license for Korean citizens in July 2022. As of December 2024, the number of users had surpassed 4 million, accounting for 30 percent of the 13 million Koreans with driver’s licenses. On March 14, the government began issuing mobile registration certificates, with Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon among the first to obtain one.

Along with Estonia, Sweden, Denmark and some others, Korea is among the first countries to offer mobile ID cards for noncitizens.

Last Friday, six banks — Shinhan, Hana, iM, BNK Busan, Jeonbuk and Jeju — began allowing foreign nationals with mobile ID cards to carry out online transactions, such as opening new bank accounts. Other major banks, including Woori, KB and the Industrial Bank of Korea, are expected to follow suit in the coming months.

The mobile residence card is recognized as equally valid as the physical ID. In coordination with all relevant agencies, the government is now improving the online system for cardholders so that it can be used at airports, hospitals and state-run institutions.

Any legal foreign resident who is 14 or older and owns a smartphone under his or her name can obtain a mobile ID card. After filling out the relevant application forms at the immigration office and installing the app, they can simply scan the QR code, as instructed on the app, and follow the rest of the steps to complete the process.

“There were some issues at the beginning of the policy implementation. But they have been addressed and the system has stabilized,” the ministry said. “If any problem occurs, we will try to find a solution promptly.”