Resident Registration Numbers Not Required for Identification on the Internet

It is expected that sometime in 2005, people will no longer be required to type in their resident registration numbers on the Internet to prove legal adulthood or one’s true identification during online transactions.

On April 15, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Han Duck-soo presided over a meeting to coordinate economic policies. At the meeting, “Countermeasures against Negative Effects of Informatization” were finalized to devise ways of confirming Internet users’ identification using means other than relying on one’s resident registration number.

The Ministry of Information and Communication explained that it is reviewing options such as introducing official certification, online real-name certification, and encoding resident registration numbers. The aim is to protect people from the consequences of overuse and abuse of resident registration numbers.

For instance, one can receive official certification by visiting the certification authorities in person. Once a person’s ID card is validated and given a number, he can enter required information on the Internet to obtain the certification. According to the bill to protect personal information pending in the National Assembly, personal identification numbers including resident registration numbers that are given to each citizen are not permitted to be used other than for their legal purposes.

Suk-Min Hong smhong@donga.com