Innovation 24

innovation24

Government Innovation

The Best Way to Enhance Competency in the Public Sector

The First and Best in Innovations

2024-06-28

Online One-stop Refinancing of Loans

 The “Online One-stop Loan Refinancing Service”, introduced by the Financial Services Commission (FSC) in 2023 to ease the pressure of loan interest rates on the public, is the first online financial service of its kind in the world.   Through this service, financial consumers are able to switch over from existing loans to other loans with lower interest rates, without the need to visit physical financial offices. Content?Online Loan Switch Service. ⓒ The Financial Services Commission√ Overview√ Introduction√ Results√ Expansion■ Loans made Cheaper, with just a few Clicks!                                      “Do I have the lowest possible interest on my loan?”“I wonder if I could switch over to a loan with lower interest rates?”Any financial consumer who pays interest on a monthly basis is bound to have wondered the same thing Using the “Online, One-stop Loan Refinancing Service”, you can easily switch over from existing loans to loan products with better interest rate terms.The “Online, One-stop Loan Refinancing Service” allows users to compare loan products from different financial institutions at once, discover the lowest interest rate products, and easily switch over to new rates on mobile apps without having to visit the bank in person. The service applies to personal credit loans, apartment mortgage loans, and "jeonse" (lump-sum deposit) loans up to the amount of one billion Korean won. However, as part of a measure to prevent excessive transfers of loans, apartment mortgage loans can only be refinanced six months after the existing loan was first activated, while "jeonse" loans can be refinanced beginning three months after the loan is activated and before half the 'jeonse' lease period has passed (1 year mark for a 2-year contract).The “Online, One-stop Loan Refinancing Service” can be utilized on respective mobile apps of financial institutions used by each financial consumer, or on loan comparison platforms (Naver Pay, Bank Salad, Kakao Pay, Toss, Finda etc.). On the platforms’ apps, individuals can confirm their existing loans through MyData, compare loan conditions for various financial institutions, access the chosen institution’s app, and switch over to a new loan. In each individual financial app, consumers can look up existing loan records, compare them with other loan product candidates, and choose the right loan product that fits them. The service is active between 9 am and 10 pm for personal credit loans, and between 9 am and 8 pm for apartment loans and "jeonse" loans, with no limits to the number of uses.■ The world’s first real-time loan refinancing system is established              The “Online, One-stop Loan Refinancing Service” is a groundbreaking attempt, introduced by the FSC for the first time in the world. While other overseas services do allow online comparison of loan products, this new Korean system is the first integrated service to provide real-time switching of loan products between key financial institutions. The loan refinancing service for personal credit loans was launched on May 31st, 2023, with support for apartment loans and "jeonse" loan services added in January 2024, continuing with active operations. Prior to the establishment of this service, financial consumers had to visit financial institutions in person to search for better deals for their loans. Furthermore, consumers were tasked with first preparing documents necessary for loan activation, such as proof of income, and then submitting documents in person at physical financial offices. Even after their new loans were approved, financial consumers still had to repeat the inconvenience of visiting financial institutions in person to repay their existing loans. However, with the “Online, One-stop Loan Refinancing” infrastructure in place, every step of the refinancing process, starting from applying for a loan to repaying the existing loan, could all be handled online at once.관련 영상 1Looking for lower Interest? Check out the Online Refinancing Service. ⓒ Korea TV (Broadcast on Feb. 15th, 2024)■ In the first year of operation, 8 Trillion won of interest saved for Koreans.After the personal credit loan refinancing service began in May 2023 for the first time in the world, in 2024, refinancing services for apartment mortgages and "jeonse" loans also successfully arrived on the market. This achievement can be accredited to the joint efforts of not just the policy-making financial authorities, but also of the financial industry and participating agencies that worked to reduce the pressure of interest rates on the public.Over the course of one year, between May 31st, 2023 and May 24th, 2024, approximately 200 thousand citizens have utilized the refinancing service, resulting in the amount of 10 trillion won in loan assets being transferred to lower interest rate loan products. For personal credit loans, a total of 168,254 users have refinanced 3 trillion, 972.7 billion won in loan funds since the launch of the service. Due to the refinancing of loans, interest rates on loan products were reduced on average by approximately 1.57%p, with annual interest savings per person at 580 thousand won.For apartment mortgage loans, a total of 24,721 users have refinanced 4 trillion, 540 billion won in loans. Interest rates on loans were reduced on average by approximately 1.49%p, leading to annual savings per person on total interest at around 2.73 million won. For "jeonse" loans, a total of 9,486 users refinanced 1 trillion, 593.1 billion won in loans, leading to an average reduction of approximately 1.40%p in interest rates, and annual interest savings per person at 2.35 million won. Overall, for all refinancing services on credit loans, apartment mortgage loans, and "jeonse" loans, the average interest rate reduction was approximately 1.52%p, and annual interest savings per person was approximately 1.62 million won.관련 영상 2[Finance News] Loan Refinancing led to 1.56M won in savings, supporting asset formulation ⓒ FSC (Published on May 9th, 2024)■ Small Apartments and Officetels with price lookups, also eligible for Loan Refinancing.In an effort to further expand the availability and convenience of the Loan Refinancing Service to more of the public, the financial authorities are making more improvements to the service.In the case of apartment mortgages, current balance payment loans were not originally eligible for the refinancing service. However, beginning April 1st, 2024, once ownership was registered under the lessee’s name, any balance payment, if the lending financial institute’s collateral security right had been settled, was now eligible to utilize the refinancing service. Furthermore, beginning in September of 2024, the Loan Refinancing Service will broaden its mortgage loan reach beyond residential apartments to small apartments and ‘Officetels’, as long as their market value can be inquired in real-time.Starting from June 3rd, 2024, "jeonse" loans were further allowed refinancing until six months prior to the end of the contracted lease period. while refinancing services for credit loans had operational hours extended (9am to 4pm, extended to 9am to 10pm) allowing usage of the service in the evenings.

2024-06-28

Ancestral Land Searching Service

The “Ancestral Land Searching” service is a land administrative service that protects the public’s right to know and right to property, by discovering and informing individuals of land that was owned by ancestors or separated families that have long since passed away. It was implemented by South Gyeongsang Province, for the first time, in 1993.  The service can be accessed through the K-Geo platform website of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport (MOLIT). Content?Ancestral Land Searching service ⓒ MOLIT K-Geo Platform√ Overview√ Introduction√ Results■ Discovering your rights to Ancestral Land                                      ?Discovering ancestral land that you didn’t even know existed?Something straight out of a common folk tale is becoming a reality with this land administrative service that has been continuously expanding for thirty years, beginning in 1993. The service has gained traction as a policy that delivers descendants with ancestral land that was not properly inherited.After experiencing Japanese colonization and the Korean War, Korea had tracts of land that had no ownership from owners passing away or going missing. There were also countless cases where, as a result of unfortunate accidents and neglected estate management, land status could not be identified and property was improperly inherited. The “Ancestral Land Searching” Service allowed unaware descendants to be informed of ancestor-owned land property, thus enacting a policy of protecting the public’s right to know, and right to property. Implemented for the first time in 1993 in the South Gyeongsang Province, this policy was expanded nationwide in 2001 due to the central government’s assertive efforts. Furthermore, in 2012, through an advanced land information system, land search could be performed at every municipal government at the city, gun (county) and gu (district) level.Ancestral Land Searches, in accordance with Korean Civil Law (Inheritance Part), can be requested by succession householders if the ancestor passed away prior to January 1st, 1960, while spouses and direct descendants are eligible to request if the ancestor passed away after that date.Furthermore, land that was owned by parents, spouses, and children who passed away after January 1st, 2008, can be even more conveniently inquired through the “Online Ancestral Land Searching” service. However, the basic certificate (previously, the “family relation register”) based on the deceased (the subject of search) must have a date of death recorded, and a certificate of family registry should be present to confirm the family relation between the deceased and the inquiring party.■ A Service that Started from a Student’s Simple Request.              Any project begins from a small sliver of interest. The “Ancestral Land Searching” service began from the suggestion of one warm-hearted public servant. On April 16th, 1993, Mr. Son, Ho-ryong, a chief cadastral officer of South Gyeongsang Province, received a request from a female middle school student who had lost her father and only parent in a traffic accident. She was in search of land that had belonged to her late father. During Mr. Son’s effort to help her find her father’s land, he realized that there was a surprising amount of land without proper ownership, and suggested the “Ancestral Land Search” project, which was accepted as a special initiative by South Gyeongsang Province. A land administrative service that protects the right of property for citizens began by discovering unknown ancestral land for unaware descendants. With further public approval of the project, the Korean government expanded the service to all cities and provinces beginning in 2001. Civil petitioners that are registering for inheritance following the passing of their parents, register for a ancestral land petition at each City, Gun, and Gu’s public office, which in turn provides details of ancestor-owned real-estate through the electronic land information network.■ “Ancestral Land Search” requests, now online from the comfort of your homeThe “Ancestral Land Search” project, initiated in April of 1993 with the suggestion of a single cadastral officer in the province, has developed into a nationwide public service that can be easily and conveniently utilized anytime and anywhere. After being expanded in late 2001 to every city and province in the nation, land inquiries for every corner of the nation, including each city, gun and gu, have become possible starting June 2012. (Guides on utilizing the “Ancestral Land Search” service are provided on the Government24(정부24) website. ☞ Please click Here to access the “Ancestral Land Search” information page in Korean)One remaining inconvenience that remained with the “Ancestral Land Search” service was the petitioners’ need to visit municipal governments (city, gun, gu offices) with documented proof that can confirm their inheritance from dead relatives. In response to this, beginning November 21st, 2022, the Korean government implemented “Online Ancestral Land Search” services through the “V-World” website online. Citizens could now utilize the service with even more convenience from the comfort of their homes.Currently, as of 2024, the “Online Ancestral Land Search” service can be accessed by entering the K-Geo Platform (https://kgeop.go.kr), operated by the MOLIT. By clicking on the “Search for Ancestral Land” option located in the center of the first screen, individuals can gain access to the service after personal verification. (The Online Ancestral Land Service only allows the lookup of land property owned by individuals who passed away 2008 and onwards.관련 영상 1Online service for Ancestral Land Search begins ⓒ MBC (Broadcasted November 21st, 2022)For five years, between 2017 and 2021, the “Ancestral Land Search” service has recorded approximately 450 thousand inquiries on average per year, with a total of 730 thousand lots of land discovered for rightful owners. The area where the most land was identified with new owners through this service during the year 2022 was the Seocho District of Seoul. As a result of the 10,642 inquiries in 2022, 1,485 citizens claimed over 3.63 million square meters of land.In South Gyeongsang Province, where the service first began, an accumulative total of 694,320 inquiries had been registered by late 2023 since the launch of the service. Returning 1,845,346 lots of land to 317,912 individual petitioners, the province continues to make efforts for the province's citizens to enact their right to property.

2023-12-29

Color traffic lane markings on road

The Korea Expressway Corporation (KEC), in 2011, installed ‘Color Guidance Lanes’ at expressways for the first time in the nation.  Increasing Safety and Reducing Confusion! No more trouble with directions for the public. Content?The Seoul Station intersection in Seoul. ⓒ City of Seoul Website√ Overview√ Introduction√ Results and Expansion■ With just a few lines, an innovation on the road                                      ?Pink and Green lines, drawn along the road, have gradually become a common sight. These lines are officially called ‘Color Guidance Lanes’. Color guidance lanes are guidance lanes painted on road surfaces so that drivers can easily identify driving directions and routes at intersections, interchanges, and junctions, etc.While there are three colors for guidance lanes, the common colors visible are pink and green. Pink guidance lanes are utilized if a road splits off in one direction, while green is additionally applied for a second direction.■ First appearance in 2011, at the Ansan junction of the West Coast Expressway,                                         On May 3rd, 2011, the ‘Color Guidance Lanes’ were first applied at the Ansan junction of the West Coast Expressway for the first time in the nation.* The world’s first color guidance lanes are known to have been installed at the Aramachi district of Sendai city, by Japan. Korea’s first color guidance lanes, visible at the Ansan junction of the West Coast Expressway ⓒ Naver Maps Screen captureThe star of this innovation is Mr. Yoon, Seok-deok, an employer of the KEC who worked at the Gunpo office at the time. His direct inspiration for developing the idea came from a traffic accident on March 2011, when a passenger vehicle and cargo truck crossed ways while changing lanes, leading to a fatal accident.Given directions at work to develop “a solution that even children could understand” Mr. Yoon headed home. At home, after seeing his children playing with paint and crayons, he devised an idea to “color the roads”.There were many obstacles to apply this idea in reality and bring forth innovation. At the time, there were only four colors (white, yellow, blue and red) permitted to be painted on roads. It was difficult to receive cooperation from related government agencies, as painting a different color, even for path guidance, would go against road and traffic legislation. Changing such legislation also took a good amount of time. After countless efforts and receiving active cooperation from Senior Inspector Lim, Yong Hoon of the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency (Stationed at the 11th Substation at the time), Mr. Yoon succeeded in introducing the first color guidance lanes to the Ansan junction.* Utilization of traffic limitation agreements and indemnification policies for active administration, etc.관련 영상 1  관련 영상 2■ Color Guidance Lanes, visible in countless locations. The Ansan junction had an average count of 25 traffic accidents per year, but following the implementation of color guidance lanes, the following six months showed a substantial reduction in incidents (3 in total).Once the colored guidance lanes were proven to have an outstanding impact on reducing traffic accidents, related government institutions began to take official action.The KEC began to create internal guidelines starting June 2012, and continued to improved its established installation standards. The KEC moved to expand the implementation of colored guidance lanes to the entire expressway network of Korea, including its junctions (Expanded to 187 locations by June 2015).In December 2017, even the Ministry of Land Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) created a “Manual on installation and management of color guidance lanes” and supported the nation-wide implementation of standardized color guidance lanes. Furthermore, the color guidance lanes were connected with traffic navigation systems and road signs so that drivers could identify driving directions with more ease.On May 17th, 2021, color guidance lanes, which had been limited to being a MOLIT provision, were reflected as official road surface markings on active rules for the Traffic Code by the National Police Agency, thus gaining official legislative grounds.Color guidance lanes have now expanded their application from not only expressways, but to any area that holds accident risks, including general national roads and regional roads. They have taken an important role of assisting drivers with a safer, easier way to navigate the road.* As of March 2023, 905 expressway locations in the nation have the lanes implemented, with substantially more locations installed for metropolitan roads.

2023-12-29

First In Korea Drive-through Screening Stations

?  The Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital, in February 2020, operated the world’s first Drive-through Screening Station. A Pinnacle of K-Quarantine, Outstandingly Quick and Safe!Content?√ Overview√ Introduction√ Results and Expansion■ Quick and Safe!!                          Drive-through screening stations are mobile screening and testing stations for drivers, designed to allow potential patients of infectious diseases to receive testing from within their vehicles without the need to exit their vehicles. These stations are a medical application derived from existing drive-through ordering systems utilized by fast food restaurants and franchise coffee shops where customers order from inside their vehicles.     A drive-through screening in process ⓒ Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital?On the 23rd of February, 2020, the Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital implemented the world’s first drive-through COVID19 screening method, with multiple nations benchmarking this new method of screening for infectious diseases.As COVID 19 was rapidly spreading within Korea at the time, there was a strong need for a faster and efficient, but also safe method of screening. The existing diagnosis method for COVID19 involved potential patients visiting on foot, gathering in front of negative pressure testing chambers, causing a high concern of secondary exposure. Meanwhile, long waiting times and testing times resulted in rising complaints of inconvenience and uneasiness.In this time of national crisis, Dr. Kim, Jinyong, head of the Center for Global Infectious Diseases Control of Incheon Medical Center, suggested a drive-through method for testing, and Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital rapidly introduced a drive-through screening station and began operations in accordance with its facility’s conditions.관련 영상 1  관련 영상 2?The Korean Drive-through Testing Method, Leading the Global Standard ?- The Drive-through testing method was first implemented in simulation form at Stanford Hospital & Clinics in the USA, with a rise in avian flu cases in 2009. However, Korea’s success case of actual implementation at a national level was the first of its kind in the world.- Beginning in August, 2020, the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) led efforts to register the COVID19 drive-through screening station standard operating model with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), with the model being verified as a world standard in February, 2022.■ The Quick Diagnoses of innovative screening stations, contributing to limiting spread of COVID19     The advantage that drive-through screening stations hold are their ability to cut off exposure threats and test with speed. The risk of exposure or infection is greatly reduced, as test subjects are tested for temperature and samples while remaining in the independent space of their vehicles.As the COVID19 drive-through tests allowed all testing procedures including questionnaire completion, doctor diagnosis, and sample collection, all from within each subject’s vehicle, the test time for each individual could be reduced to about 5 to 10 minutes. While there had been risks of cross exposure from patients waiting in front of screening stations, an addition of phone reservations for treatment led to reduced waiting lines.The existing COVID19 testing method required internal disinfection, air ventilation and changing of protective gear for medical personnel with each test, but the drive-through method allowed the exclusion of disinfection and ventilation procedures, while medical personnel were now able to continue testing with only a change of gloves and apron.The Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital’s own research showed that the drive-through method increased testing speeds by 20 to 30 times in comparison to existing testing methods.■ through Screening, Praised Overseas as a Rapid Solution Model of K-Quarantine.      

2023-12-29

First in Korea Priority Signaling for Emergency Vehicles.

?In 2020, the City of Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, introduced the nation’s first ‘Priority Signaling System for Emergency Vehicles’.Splitting Traffic with Signaling, holding onto Life in the Golden Hour!Content?‘An ambulance, running through an intersection with priority signaling ⓒ Suwon City√ Overview√ Introduction√ Results and Expansion■ A Safety Innovation for Emergency Patients and Paramedics         The priority signaling system for emergency vehicles is designed to automatically change lights to green when emergency vehicles including ambulances with emergency patients are entering intersections, made possible by the Integrated Safety Center tracking vehicle locations through GPS.The City of Suwon, Gyeonggi Province established on January 20th , 2020, for the first time in Korea, and has since operated, a ‘center-based’ priority signaling system for emergency vehicles in all areas of the city.Utilizing this system, as soon as an emergency situation is registered to the emergency safety center, the regional municipality’s central control center can identify and provide an ideal route to emergency vehicles. Furthermore, by predicting when emergency vehicles are expected to pass an intersection in their path and providing green light signaling, it can assist in the rapid passage of emergency vehicles.   관련 영상 1■ Acquiring a Fast and Safe Path for Emergency Vehicles.‘Priority Signaling for Emergency Vehicles’, responsible for guaranteeing the golden hour of emergencies, is currently operated by using either the ‘on-site control method’ or ‘center-connected method’※ The ‘on-site control method’ was first implemented by the City of Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province, in 2017. However, the existing ‘on-site control method’ required the installation of not just signal controllers, but also vehicle transmitters and wireless transceiver stations at each intersection, which would have led to a budget of more than 30 billion won if applied to Suwon.?For cost reduction and operational efficiency, the City of Suwon actively pushed for a ‘center-connected method (Central control method)’, that had the Suwon Integrated Safety Center control the signaling system of all intersections within the path of emergency vehicles. After a total of 400 million Won in budgets and 7 months of development, the city of Suwon, on January 20th , 2020, introduced Korea’s first priority signaling system for emergency vehicles that utilized a central ‘center-connected method’.Deputy team leader Lee, Byung-ho of the City Office of Suwon, who led the development of this system, introduced how the idea came to life, stating that he “thought problems for emergency vehicle systems could have a similar solution to how bus arrival times at bus stops could be calculated for passengers based on the location of buses”.관련 영상 2  ■ Developing even further into a nationwide, broad-scale Priority Signaling System!The ‘priority signaling system for emergency vehicles’ that began implementation for emergency ambulances at fire stations beginning January 2020, were later applied to police vehicles, leading to 1,827 accumulative cases of operation leading up to December 2022. Thanks to the introduction of the priority signaling system, the mean passage time for emergency vehicles maneuvering 1km was reduced by 56.3% from 3 minutes 20 seconds to 1 minute and 27 seconds.The priority signaling system for emergency vehicles is an example of how recognition of an existing issue, such as emergency vehicle dispatch and patient transport delays from complicated and change-prone road conditions, could be transformed into a specific improvement of systems. It is an accomplishment coming from the close cooperation of the City government of Suwon, fire departments, the police, and various research institutions of traffic safety.Building on this accomplishment, the system has increased speed for the transportation process of patients with time-sensitive conditions, such as severe trauma and acute myocardial infarctions, to medical facilities, greatly enhancing not just the protection of the public’s lives, but also the value of public safety.The priority signaling system for emergency vehicles, first implemented in January, 2020 for emergency dispatch vehicles at fire stations, were later expanded and applied to fire trucks and police vehicles in August, 2021, leading to 1,827 total cases of operation leading up to December 2022.In addition, the system was spread to 8 municipalities in the Gyeonggi Province, and 10 other areas around the nation, with several regions competing to introduce the system to their roads.The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) and the National Fire Agency are in the process of test driving a system utilizing a combined form of the ‘on-site control method’ and the ‘central-control method’, and hopes to further develop the system into a nationwide ‘Wide-area Priority Signaling System for Emergency Vehicles’.

2023-12-29

First In Korea Digital Vaccination Certificate (COOV)

 The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), in 2021, introduced a Digital Vaccination Certificate System (COOV) that completely restricted forgery for the first time in the world.With infectious diseases keeping us on our toes at all times, with COOV, you can access your vaccination information with safety and convenience.Content ?√ Overview√ Introduction√ Results and Expansion■ Covid-19 Vaccination records in the palm of your hand. The Covid-19 Digital Vaccination Certificate System (COOV) is a system that electronically provides proof of vaccination. In the form of a mobile application that anyone can easily install with a smartphone, the certification it provides is international, allowing usage overseas. Through a simple self-verification process for identity, an individual’s personal identification and vaccination records can be confirmed on the COOV app, and desired information can be shared with another individual through a QR code, with authenticity verified in real-time.   관련 영상 1[Left] A screen capture showing vaccination record verification and sharing. ⓒ KDCAWhen Covid-19 was spreading worldwide, the Korean government operated solutions such as quarantine passes to limit further proliferation and damage. The public had no choice but to suffer the inconvenience of verifying their vaccination status in everyday life and when travelling abroad However, the paper-based Covid-19 vaccination certificates were difficult to issue and store, with the problem of being vulnerable to forgery.With this problem in hand, the KDCA, on April 15th, 2021, began distribution for the COOV App, the world’s first blockchain-based Covid-19 digital vaccination certificate system that could, in principle, prevent forgery. The Korean public could now easily and conveniently verify their Covid-19 vaccination status.※ COOV : A combine word meaning ‘COvid-19 OVercome’, the name embodied Korea’s will to overcome Covid-19. Beginning in July of the same year, COOV was connected to private platform (Kakao, Naver) that had been providing digital entry list services. Now, the public could conveniently verify their vaccination status through their mobile app of choice.■ A Safe Covid-19 Digital Vaccination Certificate Born from Blockchain Technology!Blockchain and Decentralized Identity (DID) technology was applied to COOV to prevent forgery and confirm validity for digital vaccination certificates.※ Blockchain Labs, the startup that internally developed the Blockchain and DID technology, provided the COOV app with the functionality, free of charge. The service’s blockchain network, operated directly by the KDCA, only stored Public key information that could verify the fidelity of digital vaccination certificates, while personal information such as resident registrations numbers are excluded from storage.  COOV, by establishing a blockchain consensus algorithm that does not utilize cryptocurrency tokens, prevented any fees from using the blockchain, and is operated separately from crypto assets. Furthermore, vaccination records and provided with a real-time generated Dynamic QR, allowing safe management by preventing third parties to confirm the verification details.Because DID technology is applied to COOV, the user’s information is only stored in their smartphone, not a centralized server. The user can directly customize the how much personal information (name and date of birth), other than core vaccination information, that they share■ The COOV app, a Standard of Quarantine Security in Korea and Beyond!                        The KDCA, beginning on November 15th, 2021, expanded its mutual verification system for digital vaccination certificates, starting with Singapore and leading on to Vietnam and the Philippines.Later on, in July, 2022, the format of the European Union’s Digital Covid-19 Certificate (EU DCC) was applied to COOV, allowing COOV vaccine record verification, even in EU member nations. As of April, 2023, the COOV app is used as n international certificate in 75 nations, including the EU.A screen capture of thee COOV app issuing and verifying international certificates (EU, Singapore) ⓒ KDCA

Resources / News & Notice

[Press Release] Foreign residents in Korea can now easily file applications without language barriers

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS) announced the release of translations for 235 administrative forms most frequently used by foreign nationals residing in South Korea. These forms are now available in 10 languages*, making civil services more accessible and efficient for foreign residents.*Chinese, English, Japanese, Khmer (Cambodia), Mongolian, Russian, Tagalog (Philippines), Thai, Uzbek, VietnameseUntil now, administrative forms were primarily available in Korean, causing significant challenges for foreign residents and overseas Koreans unfamiliar with administrative terminology. While some agencies provided translated forms, their availability was limited. Foreign residents often had to rely on paid translation services or struggled through the application process. Civil servants also faced difficulties explaining complex administrative forms to non-Korean speakers due to language barriers, further complicating the process.MOIS launched a multilingual administrative form translation project last year to reduce social costs of inaccessible services and eliminate language barriers. Surveys conducted with central agencies, local governments, and multicultural centers helped identify the most frequently used forms by foreign residents and the required languages for translation. A total of 235 forms were selected, focusing on family relations registration, resident registration, immigration, and employment. The forms were translated into 10 languages, considering the number of foreign residents in Korea and the needs of various institutions, with a thorough review process ensuring accuracy.*Top nationalities of foreign residents in Korea (as of June 2024): China, Vietnam, Nepal, Cambodia, Uzbekistan, and the PhilippinesThe translated forms will be distributed to local governments, central administrative agencies, public institutions, and multicultural centers that frequently handle foreign resident applications. Anyone can easily download them from Naver Band(Easy Civil Forms for Foreigners) or Innovaton24(www.innovation.go.kr). Note that the translated forms are for reference only, and applicants must complete and submit the applications using the official Korean forms.MOIS expects that these translated forms will enhance information accuracy, simplify civil service processes, and significantly improve foreign residents’ access to administrative services.Hwang Myeong-seok, Director of the Administrative and Civil Service Improvement Planning Group, stated, "Providing translations of administrative forms removes language barriers in civil services, ensuring fair and equal access for all residents." He added, "We will continue to enhance communication in our multicultural society and improve services to make life more convenient for everyone."

2025-01-14

[Press Release] Further Strengthen the Safety of Health Functional Food and Expedite Review Process of Functional Raw Ingredients

Administrative notice of partial amendments to Standards and Specifications for Health Functional Foods (Aug.21)Fortify the standards and specifications for functional raw ingredients, incorporating the latest scientific evidence on safety and functionality. Furthermore, refine manufacturing standardsRationalize the re-deliberation protocol for functional raw ingredients with a documented review history.The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) of the Republic of Korea (Minister: Oh Yu-Kyoung) announced an administrative notice implementing partial amendments of the Standards and Specifications for Health Functional Foods and Regulations Concerning Approval of Functional Ingredients and Standards and Specifications for Health Functional Foods on August 21. Key amendments include the reinforcement of standards and specifications of functional raw ingredients and streamlining of the review process for those with established safety profiles, thereby accelerating approval timelines. This amendment incorporates 'Precautions for intake' based on the re-evaluation* of 9 functional raw ingredients**, including banaba leaf extract. Moreover, to optimize the review process for functional raw ingredient re-evaluations, only newly presented data will be subject to deliberate.   * If 10 years have passed since approval as a functional raw ingredient or if any issue related to either safety and functionality arises, re-evaluation has been conducted annually since 2017.  ** (2 Nutrients) vitamin B6, vitamin C(7 Functional raw ingredients) banaba leaf extract, ginkgo leaf extract, octacosanol-containing oil, phosphatidylserine, guar gum/guar gum hydrolyzate, theanine, chlorella⑴ Reinforcement of standards and specifications, and Expansion of manufacturing standards (Amendment of Standards and Specifications for Health Functional Foods)① In order to strengthen the management of adverse event after consuming health functional foods, products containing 8 types of functional raw ingredients are required to label precautions for intake saying "Consult a health care practitioner and stop intake if you are having adverse event." Moreover, for each functional ingredient,  information such as targeting age group and precautions for individuals taking medication will be provided to ensure safe public consumption. * e.g.) Ginkgo leaf extracts :      ⑶ Precautions for Intake     (a) Pregnant and lactating women, children shall avoid intake     (b) Consult a health care practitioner prior to intake if you are taking medicines related to blood coagulation     (c) Consult a health care practitioner and Stop intake if you are having adverse event ② A re-evaluation of functional raw ingredients and a review of human application test results led to adjustments in the daily intake amounts of octacosanol, guar gum/guar gum hydrolysate, and chlorella to ensure their safety and functionality. Additionally, considering the daily exposure to heavy metals, the lead specification for guar gum/guar gum hydrolysate is tightened to 1.0 ㎎/㎏ – originally from 2.0 ㎎/㎏. ③ Previously, production of theanine was exclusively reliant upon L-glutamine and ethyl amine. This amendment expands the permissible raw material base to include L-glutamic acid* and ethyl amine, and a new manufacturing method is established accordingly.    * The breakdown of L-glutamine with glutaminase enzyme▶ Expansion of theanine manufacturing standard  Category  Current  Amendment  Raw  materials  ①L-Glutamine, Ethyl amine  ① L-Glutamine, Ethyl amine ② L-Glutaminc acid, Ethyl amine  Preparation and/or  processing  ⑴ It shall be in edible from by crystallizing with ethanol after concentrating and purifying ① which reacted with glutaminase.⑵ It shall meet the standards and specification of food additives when chemical synthesis of ①  ⑴ It shall be in edible from by crystallizing with ethanol after concentrating and purifying the ① which reacted with glutaminase.⑵ It shall be in edible from by crystallizing with ethanol after concentrating and purifying the ② which reacted with glutaminase.⑶ It shall meet the standards and specification of food additives when chemical synthesis of ①,② ⑵ Steamlining the re-deliberation procedure of functional raw ingredients(Amendment of Regulations Concerning Approval of Functional Ingredients) If re-deliberation is requested within two years after a functional raw ingredient review is discontinued (e.g., application denial, voluntary withdrawal), previously reviewed data will be acknowledged, and only newly submitted will be deliberated to expedite the process. The MFDS expects this amendment to consolidate the safety management and support the development of the health functional food industry. With public safety as our top priority, we will continue to make resonable adjustments to standards and specifications in response to evolving environment of distribution and consumption. Details can be found on the MFDS website(http://www.mfds.go.kr > Statutes and Materials > Legislation/Administrative Notice). Public comments on this amendments can be submitted by October 21, 2024.#Ministry_of_Food_and_Drug_Safety #MFDS #Food_Safety

2024-10-16

[Press Release] Exploring Future Of Open Gorvenment With International Community In Open Gov Week 2024

“Open Gov Week 2024: Global Multistakeholder Forum” will be held on May 28-29, Seoul, KoreaThe Open Government Committee Korea leads discussions on policy areas of digital, anti-corruption and citizen participationThe Ministry of the Interior and Safety (Minister Lee Sang-min) announced that the ‘Open Gov Week 2024: Global Multistakeholder Forum’ will be held under the theme of 'Trustworthy Government Innovation and Co-creating Open Government' on May 28-29, in Seoul, Korea.Open Gov Week (OGW) is a global initiative promoted by the Open Government Partnership (OGP) to raise public awareness on open government values of transparency, anti-corruption and participation, which was initiated in 2018. Open Government Partnership (OGP) is a multilateral initiative that supports governments and civil society to make government transparent, accountable and responsive to citizens. Since its launch in 2011, 75 countries including Korea have joined the partnership and worked with civil society. Since 2018, more than 100 countries have organized nearly 3,000 open government events and shared them with global communities, and Korea is one of them.The ‘Open Gov Week 2024: Global Multistakeholder Forum’ organizes four sessions to discuss ways to pursue ‘trustworthy government innovation and co-creation open government’. The forum will explore open government efforts in the areas of digital, anti-corruption and citizen participation, most of which are committed in the 6th Korea’s Open Government Action Plan, a plan co-created by Korea’s multistakeholder forum, the Open Government Forum Korea. What makes this forum particularly relevant to everyday life is that it will introduce how social challenges such as vishing and hate speech can be addressed through open government.Session 1. Lessons Learnt and Ways Forward from Korea’s Open Government ActivitiesThe first session will convene diverse stakeholders in international organizations, government, civil society, academia and youth to explore the open government movement at the global and national levels and discuss ways forward.This will be an opportunity to learn about global movements pushing open government forward and Korea’s legal governance and platforms for open government. Furthermore, civil society will suggest how to increase citizen participation and a youth advisor of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety will share views on how to respond to social issues posed to future generations by pursuing open government.Session 2. Anti-Corruption and Democracy by Utilizing Legal TechA session on anti-corruption is themed around legal tech which presents a new paradigm of accountability driven by artificial intelligence (AI).This session will demonstrate an auto-fill service for administrative appeal forms, the EASY Administrative Appeals, launched last February by the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC) and a citizen will share experiences of using the platform. In addition, academics will discuss ‘administrative decision-making and judicial review by AI’ and the ‘legal implications and prospects of legal technology.’Session 3. Open Data and the Lives of YouthWith the theme of open data, a leading example of open government, there will be a session on the next day that touches upon interests of young people such as starting businesses and job searching.This session will share cases of an entrepreneur who started businesses using government data and workers working with data in the public and private sectors. A university student will also share ideas on addressing a social problem, such as vishing, using public data.Lastly, the Ministry of Employment and Labor will introduce a job search platform called Worknet, a platform using public data of jobs,Session 4. Towards Inclusion – beyond Discrimination and ExclusionThe session on citizen participation will go one step further than 'participation' and discuss 'inclusion' moving beyond discrimination and exclusion. It will feature 'hate speech prevention' activities and diverse aspects of policies that consider vulnerable groups of people.The presentation on hate speech prevention will introduce civil society activities, including the design of hate speech policy guidelines, and discuss problems that hate speech brings to our society and how to respond to them. Finally, two commitments of the action plan will be further explored which are ‘improving universal design’ for the safety and convenience of those with disabilities and the elderly and ‘open tourism’, which creates environment for accessible tourism for all.The Ministry of the Interior and Safety launched the Open Government Committee Korea (formerly known as OGP Forum Korea) in 2017 to take a holistic approach to open government and enhance citizen participation. The Open Government Committee Korea designs Korea’s Open Government Action Plan and raises awareness about open government values and principles. The 'Open Gov Week 2024: Global Multistakeholder Forum’ will be held at Dongdaemun Design Plaza and will be open to anyone interested in open government.To register, scan the QR code on the poster to access the registration form. In addition, open government events held around the world can also be found on the official website of Open Gov Week (www.opengovweek.org). Civil Society Co-Chair, Nam Youngjun, of the Open Government Committee Korea said “This forum will demonstrate the Korean government’s willingness to listen to citizens to ensure its transparency and effectiveness.”Vice Minister Ko Kidong of the Interior and Safety who serves as Government Co-Chair of the Open Government Committee Korea said “To enhance transparency, accountability, and citizen participation, it is crucial for governments to collaborate with civil society, academia, and youth. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety is committed to actively supporting this global event, creating an inclusive platform for various stakeholders to share experiences and strengthen partnerhip.”For more information, please contact, Yujin Lee, Deputy Director of Innovation and Planning Division, Ministry of the Interior and Safety, at yujinflee@korea.kr#Open_Gov   #Forum   #Ministry_of_the_Interior_and_Safety

2024-05-30

[Press Release] S. Korea Tops OECD Global Digital Government Index for 2nd Consecutive Time

Tops the list in 4 of 6 dimensions, ranks 2nd in overall score in 2 dimensions with significant increase in scores by dimensionTops Digital Government Index after ranking first on 2023 OECD OURdata Index□ The Ministry of the Interior and Safety (LEE Sang-min, Minister) announced that the Korean government has topped the 2023 Digital Government Index, surveyed by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), for the second consecutive time.  ○ The Digital Government Index was first surveyed by the OECD in 2019 to measure the level of digital transformation of the governments and public sectors of its member countries. The latest results were released four years later, similar to the Olympics or the World Cup. ○ After topping the 2019 Digital Government Index, Korea topped it again in 2023.□ In the 2023 Digital Government Index, the OECD assessed 33 member countries and 5 non-member countries* along six dimensions.     * 33 of 38 OECD member countries + 5 non-member countries (Peru, Brazil, Argentina, Croatia, Romania) □ Korea’s performance when it comes to digital government far outpaced other nations in the assessment. It was followed by Denmark (No. 2) and the United Kingdom (No. 3).   ○ Korea topped the list with an overall composite score of 0.935 (on a 1-point scale), representing a jump of 0.193 over its 2019 score of 0.742.  ○ Compared to the score gap in the first assessment of 0.006 between Korea (No. 1, 0.742) and the UK (No. 2, 0.736), Korea (No. 1, 0.935) topped the list this time with a score gap of 0.124 with Denmark (No. 2, 0.811), which is more than 20 times larger than the previous gap.      □ Significant changes were observed in the assessment results, with 40% of the top 10 performers from the 2019 assessment, or 6 countries, making it to the top 10 for the 2023 assessment. Nevertheless, Korea topped the list for two consecutive times, this time even with a wider gap.   ○ In 2019, two Asian countries - Korea (No. 1) and Japan (No.5) - made it to the top-10 list, but Korea was alone in 2023.  * 2019 Top 10 Performers: Korea, United Kingdom, Colombia, Denmark, Japan, Canada, Spain, Israel, Portugal, France   * 2023 Top 10 Performers: Korea, Denmark, United Kingdom, Norway, Australia, Estonia, Colombia, Ireland, France, Canada□ The six dimensions are: ① Digital by design, ② Data-driven public sector, ③ Government as a platform, ④ Open by default, ⑤User-driven, ⑥ Proactiveness.   ○ The results show Korea topping the list in 4 of the 6 dimensions: △ Data-driven public sector △ Government as a platform △ Open by default △ Proactiveness. It came in second for the remaining dimensions – Digital by design and User-driven. □ Compared to the first-ever assessment in 2019, the scores for Korea jumped significantly overall. While in 2019, its lowest score by dimension was ranked 12th, in the 2023 assessment, Korea ranked 1st in 4 dimensions and 2nd in 2 dimensions.□ The 2023 assessment by six dimensions are as follows:□ ‘Data-driven public sector’ measures how the use of data across public policies create new values. Korea was the top performer, receiving the full score of 1, while the OECD average stood at 0.633.  ○ Korea’s score in this dimension jumped 47% from 0.68 (No. 3) in 2019 to the full score of 1 (No. 1) in 2023. ○ During this time period, Korea passed the Act on Promotion of Data-based Administration, aimed at laying the foundation for administrative and public institutions to jointly utilize and analyze the data they have (data request and coordination process, responsible personnel for data-based administration, installation of data analysis center, etc.) and to establish a system of planning and evaluation to facilitate the use of data.  ○ In addition, building an “Integrated Data Management Platform,” where administrative institutions register their own data and request data from other institutions whenever needed-thereby establishing the platform for evidence-based decision making-must have been a factor in the positive assessment.□ “Government as a platform” measures the transparent deployment of standards and data by the government so that demand-centered integrated and related services can be easily developed and walls across the public sector eradicated to enable the development of demand-centric services. Korea received 0.913, while the OECD average score stood at 0.615. ○ In July 2022, the YOON Suk-yeol administration launched the Presidential Committee on the Digital Platform Government and identified “Digital Platform Government” as a major state target, providing a more detailed role of the government as a platform.   ○ Well-received as examples of the strengthening of the government’s role as platform were “Open Digital Services” that enable the private sector to take advantage of converged public services that had only been accessed via public application and website, as well as “Private Software as a Service (SaaS),” which enhances efficiency through application of private cloud company technology to the software used by administrative and public institutions. □  The “Open by default” dimension measures the openness of the government’s information, data and procedures. Korea received 0.882, with the OECD average score being 0.525.   ○ “National Hub Data” has been acknowledged as outstanding as a data set allowing the public sector to create added value from public data, as was “Authenticating Service,” which enables users to see whether information is authentic or not, even if it is not disclosed.   ○  On top of continuously identifying and opening high-value data, the Korean government also provides services that can be offered jointly as public data such as transportation services near homes and tailored start-up assisting services for small business owners.□ “Proactiveness” assesses the governments’ capacity to anticipate the needs of the public so as to facilitate the delivery of the right government services. Korea received 0.934, while the OECD average was 0.567.      ○  Korea’s score in the “Proactiveness” rose significantly, jumping a dramatic 86% from 0.5 (No. 12) in 2019 to 0.934 (No. 1) in 2023 and climbing up more than 10 places on the list. ○ Also pointed out as outstanding was the “Virtual Assistant Service for the Public (Guppi) AI Chatbot,” which enables users to use Q&A and consulting services and provides easy access to essential administrative information on health, transportation, taxes, etc., through linkage with a public mobile app.   ○  As of 2023, the number of subscribers to the Virtual Assistant Service for the Public hovered around 16.26 million, and it is now in a position to be the representative administrative service with 1 of every 3 citizens using it.   □  The “Digital design” dimension measures efforts to adopt digital technology from the launch of new public policies and services. Korea scored 0.971, while the OECD average stood at 0.684. ○  Korea’s “My Public Data,” where users can submit required documents in one go-rather than separately-along with their consent to the public sector’s use of personal information, was also considered outstanding. ○ “Public My Data,” which began as a pilot program in 2021, now provides personal administrative information in 160 categories, including issuance of resident registration cards and tax payment certificates, for a total of 140 services ranging from loans to registering for the electricity bill welfare discount.□  The “User-driven” dimension assesses governments’ capacity to guarantee engagement of the public (users) in policy making and service design. Korea received a score of 0.909, while the OECD average was 0.607.  ○ Korea’s score for the “User-driven” dimension jumped 35% from 0.67 (No. 4) in 2019 to 0.909 (No. 2) in 2023.   ○  Pointed to as outstanding were the “Participatory Public Service Design Group,”’ which involves the public in the overhauling of service delivery procedures, and the “Public Idea Box.”□ The Ministry of the Interior and Safety realizes it cannot be complacent about these latest assessment results and is committed to continuing to exert its full efforts to building a “Digital Platform Government” that aims to address social issues with the cooperation of its citizens, corporations and government agencies to create new values. ○  By “phasing out required public documents,” the Ministry aims to initiate “Digital by Design” through the use of digital technology for all government services. It also will utilize new technology like “Hyperscale AI” to bolster the use of data in making administrative decisions and to roll out tailored services for individuals.   ○ Moreover, it will continue to strengthen its own role as a platform for growth where both public and private sector join hands through services like “Digital Service Open” and “Shift to Private-based Cloud Native.”       * Cloud Native: A more agile and flexible method than the original method-in terms of resource management-where a variety of services can be included that are provided by the private sector, instead of having to change the entire structure to introduce new services.   ○ This is expected to contribute significantly to helping digital government-related companies go global.   □ Meanwhile, Korea topped the Open Data Assessment*  in 2023 (announced in December), representing the fourth consecutive time it has done so, following identical showings in 2015, 2017, and 2019. * The OECD carries out open data assessment on member countries, in accordance with based on the International Open Data Charter. □ According to Minister of the Interior and Safety LEE Sang-min, “Korea was able to top the Digital Government Index again, after also ranking first in the Open Data Assessment announced by the OECD last December, thanks to the efforts exerted by the public, government and corporations.” He added, “The ministry will continue to build a digital platform government that provides service convenience and stability in its globally acknowledged role as a digital government leader.”

2024-01-31

[Press Release] Real-time Subway Platform Congestion Prediction Model

-  A real-time platform congestion calculation model for the subway in Seoul and the Gimpo Goldline was developed.-  With 90% accuracy, it can quickly detect crowd surges and allow immediate on-site measures following the manual.-  From November, the analysis model will be piloted in two subway stations in Seoul, and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety plans to standardize it for nationwide implementation.The government has completed the development of an artificial intelligence (AI) based data analysis model that can monitor real-time congestion at subway station platforms, which will be piloted starting this month.The Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS, Minister Lee Sang-min) announced that the Integrated Data Analysis Center (IDAC) has completed the development of the "AI-based Subway Platform Congestion Prediction Model." This model has been under development using the subway in Seoul and the Gimpo Goldline as samples since June, and it will be piloted on the Seoul subways starting this month.The model was developed based on AI-generated estimates of the number of people on the subway platforms. It calculates the density and congestion level, considering the platform area, and classifies it into four levels from Level 1 to Level 4 to represent the congestion.The IDAC, the Seoul Metro, and the Gimpo Goldline joined the model development process, using 8 million pieces of data, including subway entry and exit tag data, transportation card settlement data, and train departure and arrival data.Platform occupancy refers to the passengers waiting for the subways on the platform after passing through the entry gates and the passengers who move through the platform to the exit gates after getting off the train.The real-time platform occupancy at the station is determined by a comprehensive analysis of factors such as the real-time number of people passing through entry and exit gates, the number of people who passed through entry and exit gates at the previous station, and historical entry and exit data for the current period.According to the technical standards of the Railway Safety Management System (Design Guidelines for Urban Railway Stations and Transfer Facilities), the congestion level is calculated based on the percentage of people exceeding the baseline of 4.3 people per square meter (100% congestion). Real-time platform occupancy: 300 people, platform area: 50 m², per-area standard occupancy: 4.3 people, → Congestion level: (300 ÷ 50)/4.3 = 1.395 (139.5%) → Congestion level: Caution레벨 1: 약 129%로 정상 상태 레벨 2: 약 149%로 주의 필요 레벨 3: -169%로 심각한 상황 레벨 4: 170% 이상으로 혼잡한 상태 각 레벨에 따른 상태 변화와 경고 신호 상황에 따라 적절한 대응 필요 지속적인 모니터링 필요 안전 확보를 위한 주의 요망The two- rounds of performance verification results confirmed an accuracy of 90.1% for the analysis model.The developed model has been integrated into the Seoul Metro's control room dashboard. Seoul Metro uses this model to monitor the congestion levels of two stations displayed in real time.Along with the development and implementation of this model, the Seoul Metro has also revamped its congestion response system. In the event of unexpected crowd surges, the system is designed to automatically disseminate information and take proactive on-site measures following the congestion management manual.MOIS and the Seoul Metro believe that the utilization of this analysis model will help effectively respond to congestion situations within subway stations. Scientific monitoring of platform congestion will enable proactive on-site measures at different levels, leading to a tangible effect in preventing accidents.MOIS plans to standardize the platform congestion calculation model through a pilot operation process within the year and expand it to subway stations in the metropolitan area and four other cities (Busan, Daegu, Gwangju, Daejeon).Vice Minister Ko Kidong stated, “As a concrete achievement of the Digital Platform Government, it will enhance the public convenience when applied to the subway.” “We will continue to support the effective prevention of subway crowd accidents as we have overhauled the response system for congestion,” he added. #Big_Data   #Real_Time  #Subway  #Congestion_Prediction_Model  #Agile_Government  #Data_Based_Government   #Ministry_of_the_Interior_and_Safety

2024-01-09

[Press Release] Arrested 51 Voice Phishing Scammers Using the World’s First Voice Analysis Model for Voice Phishing

- The voice data analysis model for voice phishing crimes, developed by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, played a pivotal role in apprehending criminals on the ground.- The Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police and the National Forensic Service collaborated to analyze the voices of criminals, finding clues to accomplices and unsolved cases. - The voice analysis model has been widely used among police agencies nationwide, which is expected to further accelerate the investigation of voice phishing crimes. The government's voice data analysis model for voice phishing crimes, developed for the first time in the world in February, is playing a key role in the investigation and arrest of voice phishing crimes. Therefore, it is expected that such crime-related investigations will speed up. On October 31st, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS, Minister Lee Sang-min) announced that it had apprehended a total of 51 individuals, including the leaders of three voice phishing criminal organizations and their financial management personnel by using the 'voice phishing voice analysis model' (hereinafter referred to as the voice analysis model). The model was developed earlier this year and has been used to analyze the National Forensic Service (NFS) and police investigations.The three arrested organizations were found to have established call center offices in domestic apartments and used personal information and burner phones to blackmail victims to “release their explicit videos,” extorting a total of 600 million won from them.The Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police (hereinafter referred to as Gyeonggi Nambu Police) arrested five individuals for the first time in May during on-site inspections of repeaters that change overseas calling numbers used in voice phishing crimes into domestic mobile phone numbers starting with '010.’Following this, the police initiated a full-scale investigation to establish the criminal charges of the apprehended suspects and identify related individuals. In particular, the police utilized the voice analysis model* distributed by MOIS in July during the investigation of the apprehended suspects to determine whether the voices of the arrested suspects and the voices obtained from the victims match.*A police investigator from the Gyeonggi Southern Police completed MOIS’ training on the voice analysis model (July 11) and used the pilot analysis model.According to the assessment results, the investigating officer who confirmed the identity of the individuals used this information to substantiate the suspects' charges. Simultaneously, he requested an in-depth analysis from the NFS to verify additional allegations against the suspect and to identify any accomplices.The NFS used the voice analysis model developed this year to compare and analyze the voices of the apprehended suspects with over 13,000 recorded voices of voice phishing crime offenders that they possessed. As a result of 12 rounds of close cooperation and mutual analysis between the NFS and the Gyeonggi Nambu Police, they were able to confirm the relevance of 17 cases, including the “Overseas XX Call Center Organization Case,” which was previously classified as an unsolved case, and identify the related criminals.Based on their analysis and the analysis results from the NFS, the Gyeonggi Nambu Police was able to quickly identify the suspects, accelerating follow-up investigations, including phone and bank account record inquiries, as well as the CCTV verification process.As a result, it identified the suspects from three organizations, including the call center head, the fund management team, and the counselors. By the end of October, it had apprehended a total of 51 individuals, including 16 direct accomplices and other individuals involved in related crimes.Currently, additional apprehension operations are underway for the suspects with identified charges, so the number of individuals arrested is expected to increase in the future.MOIS and the police believe that using the newly developed voice analysis model played a decisive role in accelerating the investigation and apprehension process of voice phishing crime organizations.In particular, the use of this analysis model has been highly significant, not only in arresting domestic voice phishing crime organizations but also in revealing previously unsolved overseas operation organizations, leading to the additional arrest of their members.In line with this, the ministry plans to conduct regular training on the use of the analysis model twice a year and support the widespread use of the analysis model in various voice-related case investigations moving forward.Minister Lee Sang-min commented, "The effectiveness of voice analysis in combating voice phishing has been confirmed through the apprehension of criminal organizations." He stated, "In the evolving landscape of voice-related crimes, we will continue to provide training and improve the model so that it can be widely utilized to swiftly apprehend criminals in various forms of voice crime investigations."#Big_Data  #Voice_Analysis_Model  #Agile_Government  #Data_Based_Government  #Voice_Phishing  #Ministry_of_the_Interior_and_Safety  #National Forensic Service

2023-11-01

innogov@korea.kr

42 Doum 6-ro, Sejong-si 30112, Republic of Korea

© Ministry of the Interior and Safety. All rights reserved.