Overseas Koreans to get new IDs

In the past, ethnic Koreans overseas couldn’t buy goods from Korean Internet shopping sites because they didn’t have Korean registration ID numbers - and thus couldn’t create accounts for such Web sites.

To rectify that, the Ministry of Public Administration and Security said it will provide personal identification numbers that will replace registration numbers for overseas Koreans.

The measure will allow overseas Koreans without Korean registration IDs to freely use the Web sites of more than 3,000 public institutions, including the Foreign Ministry, the Military Manpower Administration, and the Small and Medium Business Administration, as well as 400 Internet shopping sites and Internet-based games, the ministry said yesterday.

After verifying their identity at www.g-pin.go.kr by typing their name and passport number, overseas Koreans will get a personal identification number that can be used instead of a Korean registration ID number.

Many overseas Koreans without registration numbers have complained about the poor accessibility of Korean Web sites. Without a registration number, they have been unable to become members of the sites or post messages.

By Kim Mi-ju [mijukim@joongang.co.kr]