South Korea is testing a digital ID card that digitizes a system that has been in use for nearly six decades, using blockchain to improve security.
According to local reports, the new digital identity will be tested in nine regions, including the cities of Sejong and Yeosu and the provinces of Geochang and Yeongnam. It will be available to all residents of these regions aged 17 or over.
The new system digitizes a national identity card system that has been in use since 1968. However, in 2021, the South Korean government introduced three new digital ID cards: a mobile driver’s license, a veteran registration card, and a foreign ID card.
Digital IDs are becoming increasingly popular worldwide as more and more governments continue to digitize their services. However, cybersecurity remains a major challenge. With identity now connected to virtually every facet of citizens’ daily lives, governments must ensure it is adequately protected in an era where AI is taking cybercrime to a new level.
In South Korea, the government will rely on advanced encryption and blockchain technology to improve security, local reports say. It is unclear which blockchain the government wants to use and to what extent. Previously, the Seoul Metropolitan Government built applications on ICON, a local blockchain network, but the applications were limited to smaller tasks such as document issuance.
In a separate announcement, the Ministry of the Interior and Security announced that it would also issue digital residence cards to foreigners living in the country. The new cards will have the same legal validity as their physical counterparts and can be used to access public and private services. The ministry is working with local banks to enable the use of digital cards for fintech services.
The ministry added that foreign nationals whose residence cards were issued before January 1, 2025 will need to visit an immigration office to board. However, the cards issued this year come equipped with an integrated chip that allows holders to easily set up their digital identity on a mobile app.
South Korea joins several other governments exploring digital identity to keep pace with the rapid digitalization of most services. Recently, Qatar launched the ‘National Digital Authentication and Trust Services Strategy for 2024-2026’, and a unified digital ID is one of its pillars.
In Afghanistan, digital ID, known as e-Tazkiras, has exploded in the past year, now reaching more than 15 million Afghans. This week the government announced it was setting up new enrollment centers as the number of applicants was off the charts. In Nigeria, the government has set an ambitious target of 180 million digital IDs by the end of 2026, representing 100% uptake in an initiative supported by the World Bank.
Thailand’s former prime minister wants digital assets to be legalized
Thaksin Shinawatra, the former Prime Minister of Thailand, has called on the Thai government to legalize digital assets and online gambling.
Shinawatra was speaking at an event following the passage of a new bill easing strict restrictions on casinos. Despite the restrictions, millions of Thais engage in gambling, and estimates suggest billions of dollars go into the industry every year.
Shinawatra believes the government should take a similar stance on digital assets. As with gambling, the government is tough on the industry, although restrictions have been eased in recent years. Earlier this month, the government proposed legalizing digital asset payments in Phuket’s tourist area. The securities regulator has also proposed legalizing spot ETFs for digital assets.
Shinawatra noted that with the rise of Donald Trump as US president, the prominence of digital assets will skyrocket globally, and he wants Thailand to position itself to take advantage of that. He called on the SEC to consider “allowing stablecoin trading, or coins backed by assets… There will be no risk, it’s just another currency in the world.”
Shinawatra was Prime Minister of Thailand from 2001 to 2006. Although he has since retired from active politics, he has great influence on the country’s governance, along with his daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the current Prime Minister.
Thailand has one of the most advanced central bank digital currency (CBDC) systems in the world. It is also a founding member of the mBridge pilot, which is building a regional CBDC system for faster and cheaper cross-border payments between members including Hong Kong, the UAE and China.
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