Anyang City Begins Issuance of Mobile Resident ID Cards Starting February 28

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Eom In-yong] Anyang City announced on February 21 that it will begin issuing mobile resident ID cards at Administrative Welfare Centers in each district starting February 28.

The mobile resident ID is a resident ID card that can be safely stored on a personal smartphone and has the same legal effect as a physical resident ID card, usable at administrative and financial institutions, hospitals, and other facilities.

To issue a mobile resident ID card, citizens must install the 'Republic of Korea Mobile ID' app on their smartphone under their own name, and can apply through two methods: QR code issuance and issuance through an IC chip embedded in the resident ID card.

QR code issuance involves visiting a center with a physical (plastic) resident ID card and scanning the QR code, allowing immediate issuance at no cost.

However, if a smartphone is changed or the app is deleted, citizens must revisit the center to issue a new mobile resident ID card.

The IC chip resident ID card has the same appearance as an existing resident ID card but is a physical resident ID with an embedded IC chip that can be recognized by a smartphone, allowing citizens to directly issue or reissue it themselves.

If a physical resident ID card is reported as lost, the validity of both the physical and mobile resident ID cards is suspended. If a smartphone is reported lost to a telecommunications company, only the mobile resident ID card's validity is suspended.

Any Anyang City resident who has been issued a resident ID card can obtain a mobile resident ID at Administrative Welfare Centers in the city. Following the Ministry of the Interior and Safety's phased expansion plan, from March 28 onwards, issuance will be available nationwide regardless of registered address.

Anyang City Mayor Choi Dae-ho said, "The introduction of mobile resident ID cards will significantly improve citizen convenience," and added, "We will continue to expand diverse services through smart administration to minimize inconvenience for citizens."