EasyTicket If you want to handle banking without a wallet and board a domestic flight, get a mobile ID in advance. Add a mobile driver’s license or mobile resident registration card to the app, then present it on screen or via QR code as directed on site.
Mobile ID Comparison: Driver’s License vs. Resident Registration Card
It Has the Same Legal Effect as a Physical ID
The mobile ID issued by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety has the same legal effect as a physical ID. You can use it to verify your identity with public institutions, financial institutions, and private-sector services, and show only the information that’s needed. (Source: Ministry of the Interior and Safety)
A Recommended Choice for Wallet-Free Workers
If you have a driver’s license, choose a mobile driver’s license; if you don’t, choose a mobile resident registration card. Comparing the issuance routes, the IC ID option involves less hassle when you need a replacement, especially if you’re likely to change phones often.
How to Get a Mobile ID: IC vs. QR
How to Issue One by Tapping an IC ID
Apply for an IC driver’s license through the Safe Driving Integrated Civil Service portal, a driver’s license testing center, or a police station. Once you receive it, tap it against the back of your phone to set up your mobile ID. The fee is KRW 15,000. You can apply for an IC resident registration card online or at a community service center; the fee is KRW 10,000.
| Category | Eligible holder | Issuance route | IC issuance fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile driver’s license | Driver’s license holder | Tap an IC license | KRW 15,000 |
| Mobile resident registration card | Resident registration card holder | Tap an IC resident registration card | KRW 10,000 |
How to Issue One with a QR Code at a Service Counter
You don’t have to switch to an IC card. Bring your physical driver’s license to a driver’s license testing center, or your physical resident registration card to a nearby community service center. Fill out the application, then scan the QR code provided with the mobile ID app to complete issuance.
How to Use a Mobile ID at Banks and Domestic Airports
At a Bank Counter, Present a QR Code or Your Screen
When a bank needs to verify your identity, open the mobile ID app and present it as the staff instructs. The method may vary—staff may check your screen, ask you to show your QR code, or have you scan a QR code at the counter—so saying “I’ll use my mobile ID for verification” first can make things go more smoothly.
For a lengthy transaction such as opening an account, check the identity-verification method used by the bank’s app or branch before you visit. Mobile IDs are widely accepted, but the verification process can vary by transaction.
At Airports, It’s for Domestic-Flight Identity Checks
At domestic departure areas, you can present a mobile ID for identity verification. Mobile IDs can also be used alongside resident registration cards, driver’s licenses, and passports when registering biometric information with Korea Airports Corporation. Biometric services operate at 14 airports nationwide, excluding Incheon Airport. For international flights, you need a passport. (Source: Korea Airports Corporation)
What to Check Before Replacing Your Phone
How Reissuance Differs for IC and QR IDs
Those with an IC ID can get a replacement by tapping it again with their new phone and completing identity verification. If you originally got a mobile ID via QR using a driver’s license, however, you’ll need to revisit a driver’s license testing center; if you used a resident registration card, you’ll need to return to a community service center.
One-Minute Checklist Before Work or a Business Trip
- I’ve completed identity verification in the mobile ID app.
- If I changed phones, I’ve checked whether I need to tap an IC ID or visit a service center again.
- For a domestic flight, I’ve prepared my mobile ID and boarding pass together.
- For an international flight, I’ve packed my passport separately from my mobile ID.
If your mobile ID is lost, you can immediately suspend it by filing a lost-ID report. Planning a business trip, I found it much more reassuring to check the day before whether issuance or reissuance was needed, rather than waiting until the day I went to the airport.
Mobile ID Issuance FAQ
Can I Handle Banking with Only a Mobile Resident Registration Card?
A mobile resident registration card can be used as an ID at financial institutions. However, verification procedures for in-person and remote transactions vary by financial company and transaction type, so ask first whether QR verification is available.
Can I Get One for the First Time Right Before a Domestic Flight?
QR issuance requires a visit to a driver’s license testing center or community service center. If you already have an IC ID, you can complete the process by tapping it with your phone, but it’s safer to finish issuance before departure rather than trying to sort it out at the airport on the day.
Can I Board an International Flight with a Mobile ID?
No. You need a passport for identity checks on international flights. Treat a mobile ID as a way to simplify domestic flights and everyday identity checks, and always take your passport when traveling abroad.
Once you’ve set it up, a mobile ID makes bank visits and domestic travel easier without a wallet. Choose the IC or QR method that suits you and set it up ahead of time.