The smartphone app Samsung Wallet can hold a user's mobile driver's license and national veteran's registration certificate. (Samsung Electronics)

By Lee Kyoung Mi

A private smartphone app can hold the digital identification of its user.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety and Samsung Electronics on March 20 hosted an event on the introduction of a mobile ID on the smartphone app Samsung Wallet (formerly Samsung Pay), linking the app with a user's driver's license and national veteran's registration certificate.

The comprehensive digital ID is designed for both on- and offline use and in a contactless environment, with the same legal validity as that of a physical ID. The mobile driver's license can also be used for voter identification in the April 10 parliamentary elections.

As of last month, an estimated 2.22 million mobile IDs were issued since their launch in July 2022 -- 2.21 million digital licenses and 10,000 certificates.

The ministry said, "We plan to expand the use of mobile IDs to the residence cards of citizens, ethnic Koreans from abroad and foreign residents."

km137426@korea.kr