Fingerprints, faces collected

An Uri Party lawmaker raised questions yesterday about the Information Ministry’s database of citizens’ physical features, such as fingerprints and face scans. Previously, the ministry informed the National Assembly’s committee for science technology and information communications that it spent 2.8 billion won ($2.7 million) from 2002 to 2004 to establish a somatic database. The government created the database to help private firms develop and commercials technologies that use somatic information. Such information is used in various security products such as building access authorization devices. As of late last year, the market for products using somatic information amounted to 63 billion won. “We expect 47-percent growth each year until 2008,” an official at a security device firm said. “In 2008, the market should surpass 300 billion won.” The database can be accessed by academics and people working in related fields at no cost. So far, the government has collected the fingerprints of 3,600 people and 2,020 face scans. The Korea Information Security Agency, an organization under the ministry, paid individuals 30,000 won to 40,000 won for fingerprints and 40,000 won to 80,000 won for face scans. The fingerprints and face scans were then converted to digital files. Uri Representative Seo Hye-seok, however, said yesterday that the ministry acted unethically in collecting such information, especially because some volunteers were minors. But the ministry said the somatic information database does not include the names, addresses or any information that would identify the volunteers and that they willingly underwent the scans for research purposes. by Wohn Dong-hee