A smartphone is used to verify the authenticity of products protected under the K-Brand Government Certification System using an artificial intelligence-powered digital watermark. (Ministry of Intellectual Property)

By Xu Aiying

Consumers abroad can now use a simple tool for detecting counterfeits of Korean products.

The Korea Minting and Security Printing Corp. (KOMSCO) and the Ministry of Intellectual Property on Oct. 10 said a new artificial intelligence (AI)-powered technology using digital watermarks can instantly verify the authenticity of products protected by the K-Brand Government Certification System with just a smartphone scan, with no need to install a separate app.

The national certification mark incorporates the latest anti-counterfeiting technology developed by KOMSCO, based on the agency's technical expertise in currency production to make counterfeiting difficult. Invisible information is embedded in an irregular shape or pattern that a smartphone camera can read and verify as a digital watermark.

The authentication process is simple. Scanning the QR code next to the certification mark with a smartphone activates a digital watermark detection program. If the product is genuine, a confirmation message appears automatically in one of 15 languages like Korean, English, Chinese and Japanese based on the smartphone's default language setting.

If the item is a fake that imitates even the K-brand national certification mark, the warning "Suspected counterfeit" appears on the smartphone screen.

Domestic companies can choose whether to use the mark. Those that opt to do so can attach labels bearing the mark and a QR code on their products or print them directly on goods for export.

xuaiy@korea.kr