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South Korea Denies Mobile ID Loophole Amid Data Center Fire Fallout

South Korean authorities are pushing back against rumors that mobile phone accounts were opened without proper identification. These claims emerged after a fire disrupted the national verification system last month. Officials confirm the system was quickly restored and additional checks were implemented. They emphasize that strict protocols remain in place for all mobile account activations.

Key Points: South Korea Denies Mobile Phone Accounts Opened Without ID

  • Government denies claims of mobile accounts opened without ID verification
  • System disrupted by September 26 fire at National Information Resources Service
  • Lawmaker reported over 150,000 phones registered without proper checks
  • Alternative verification methods available during system restoration period
2 min read

S. Korean gov't denies possibility of opening mobile phone accounts without ID

Government and telecom officials refute claims that Chinese visitors opened mobile accounts without proper ID verification following data center fire disruptions.

"We will take stern action against those who used fake IDs - Telecom Official"

Seoul, Oct 19

The South Korean government and telecommunication community denied rumors that some Chinese people had opened new mobile phone accounts without undergoing proper identity (ID) verification amid nationwide online disruptions stemming from a fire in the state data centre, industry sources said on Sunday.

Recently, some social media posts have claimed that ID verification was no longer required when activating new mobile phone lines, reports Yonhap news agency.

A separate report released by Rep. Park Jeong-hun argued that more than 150,000 mobile phones were registered without ID checks between Sept. 27 and Sept. 30, coinciding with the start of South Korea's temporary visa-free entry program on Sept. 29.

Park said the state-run online ID verification system had been out of service for four days following a fire on Sept. 26 at the National Information Resources Service (NIRS) in the central city of Daejeon.

However, government and telecom officials refuted the claims, saying the system was restored on Sept. 29 and mobile carriers have screened out any unauthorized identity use.

"We will take stern action against those who used fake IDs," said an official from a local telecom company, emphasizing that most new mobile activations went through proper verification procedures.

Some activations initially underwent simplified checks, but most were later verified as legitimate, he added.

According to an AFP report, a government official stressed there was "no problem" in the process, adding that alternative methods for ID checks were available.

Under South Korea's real-name verification system, only foreigners with a resident registration card can open regular mobile accounts, while short-term visitors and visa-free tourists are limited to prepaid SIM cards.

Meanwhile, Yonhap news agency reported that about 1,700 global business leaders, including Nvidia Corp. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jensen Huang, will gather in South Korea for a major business forum to be held on the sidelines of the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Interesting how this happened right when visa-free entry started. Seems too coincidental. Our government should learn from such incidents and ensure our digital infrastructure is robust. Jai Hind! 🇮🇳
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Arjun K
The government's denial seems a bit rushed. If the system was down for 4 days, there must have been some gap. Transparency is important in such matters. Hope they conduct a thorough audit.
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Sarah B
As someone who travels frequently, I appreciate countries having proper verification systems. It protects both citizens and legitimate visitors. Hope they fix any issues before the APEC summit.
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Karthik V
Data centre fire causing nationwide disruption? This shows how vulnerable digital systems can be. India should invest more in backup systems and cybersecurity infrastructure. Very important for national security.
M
Michael C
The timing with the visa-free program and Nvidia CEO's visit is interesting. Hope this doesn't affect investor confidence. Proper verification systems are crucial for international business trust.

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