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Ministry of Science and ICT Urged to Consult Closely with Interior Ministry Over PASS Scale-Back and Shutdown

PolicyOctober 23, 20261 min read

South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) is being urged to work closely with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety before the PASS mobile ID service is cut back or ended. The request was made in a National Assembly audit.

What happened

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety is reviewing whether to shrink or close PASS, a mobile identity check service run by the three major telecom companies. At a National Assembly audit of MSIT on the 23rd, Rep. Seo Cheon-ho of the People Power Party asked the ministries to talk fully before deciding. He warned that the current plan could cost about 70 billion won and that ordinary people should not end up paying for it.

Key numbers

PASS has about 13.8 million users.
The service has an estimated loss risk of about 70 billion won if the plan goes ahead.
PASS began in 2019 as a mobile driver's license check run by MSIT.
Deputy Prime Minister Bae Kyung-hoon said only that he would "look into" the issue.

Why PASS matters

PASS lets people prove who they are on a phone, for example when logging in to websites or using public services. Because the government expanded it as a policy, several ministries are involved. That is why lawmakers want them to agree on the direction together.

Why it matters

Millions of people use PASS every day, so a cut or shutdown would affect many users and businesses. Lawmakers say consumer groups also oppose the plan. The debate shows how hard it is for government agencies to change a service that people already depend on.

What to watch

Whether MSIT and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety hold formal talks on PASS.
Any final decision on shrinking or ending the service.
How the telecom companies and consumer groups respond.
Whether the estimated 70 billion won loss is confirmed or revised.

Glossary

PASS: A mobile identity check service from Korea's three big telecom companies, used to prove who you are online.

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