South Korea to Require Face Biometrics for Mobile Numbers by 2026

A novel policy has been implemented by South Korea which mandates facial recognition for people getting new mobile phone numbers. This move aims to protect customers from identity theft and fraud, one of the most notable types being voice phishing. Initially, in March 2026, the verification of the face in real-time will be a prerequisite for all new mobile users. This technique consists of comparing the person’s live facial picture with the one on their ID card issued by the government to check the person’s identity.

The three leading telecom firms in South Korea, SK Telecom, KT, and LG Uplus, have taken this step of compelling customers to authenticate their identities by means of facial recognition technology to activate new mobile numbers. The primary objective behind this move is to combat the growing issue of scam calls originating from unregistered mobile phones, which have persisted as a major concern in South Korea for quite a while.

Voice phishing is a very serious offence. In 2025, the number of cases exceeded 21,000, and the losses amounted to over 1 trillion won ($760 million). The administration is of the opinion that biometric authentication can be a powerful tool against con artists. It is through this technique that fraudsters will be unable to use phones registered under the names of the legitimate owners or under fake identities.

A test period is set to begin next week, after which the nationwide policy will be operational in March 2026. This step is part of a larger anti-phishing bundle that was unveiled in August, which includes stronger sanctions for wireless operators that do not apply sufficient fraud prevention measures.

The newly implemented biometric requirement aligns with the measures already taken by other Southeast Asian nations, such as Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia. These countries have also been utilizing facial recognition technology to combat mobile-related fraud and scams.

Global Initiatives Addressing Telecom Fraud with Biometric Verification

Biometric verification is being used for SIM card registration in Indonesia and Thailand. Some Central Asian countries are also starting to use similar methods to stop fraudulent calls. In 2025, Kazakhstan’s authorities blocked 65 million calls they deemed fraudulent. This shows a global effort where biometric methods are key tools in the fight against telecom fraud.