hankyoreh

proposed by the government.

In the near future, South Koreans will likely hold so-called "next-generation" identification cards, which will store personal data electronically.

According to a statement made by the Ministry of Government Administration and Home Affairs on September 22, the ministry requested a consortium of the Korea Minting and Security Printing Corporation (KOMSC) participated in by Samsung SDS to design new identification cards. The planned integrated-circuit-based "smart card" appeared to be relatively safer than the current cards for protecting personal information and preventing forgery and alteration, the ministry said. The smart card got the most favorable comments in terms of convenience and practicality, added the ministry.

The surface of the cards will include the owner’s name, date of birth, gender, and a passport photo, while personal information such as resident registration number, fingerprints, home address, and security passwords will be contained in the integrated circuit (IC) chip, according to the report.

In addition, the government has suggested that a new "registration number" be built into the card for online identificatory purposes, a number that would be different from users’ resident registration numbers. Currently, online users must enter their resident numbers to identify themselves when using many web sites and when making online financial transactions.

With their improved functions, the new cards could open new administrative opportunities, such as allowing people to use their cards to log onto online government sites or using them for electronic voting, ministry officials said. The report suggested a plan to replace half of South Korea’s ID cards between 2009 and 2011, with development and testing planned through next year.

Gwon Hyeok-in, a ministry official, said, "Based on the report, the ministry will prepare a basic game plan and have consultations with other concerned ministries. We are also going to collect opinions of citizens from every walk of life."

Many civic organizations, however, raised objections, saying that the new cards may infringe upon human rights by consolidating personal information, such as identification, driver’s license, and medical ID numbers.

Kim Yeong-hong, director of the Citizens’ Action Network, said, "The government says it will minimize the personal information to be contained in the card," but because of the diversity of information to be stored, identity theft would be a major concern, he warned. "The government should reconsider its plan to replace the ID cards."