Users on South Korea's major secondhand trading platforms will soon be able to display a "mobile ID verification mark," as the government rolls out a package of consumer-protection and public-safety measures aimed at curbing surging fraud and everyday accidents.
■ Mobile ID Verification Coming to Karrot, Joonggonara
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety said Thursday that it will phase in a mobile ID-based identity verification system on major secondhand trading platforms, including Karrot Market, Joonggonara and Bunjang.
Under the system, users who complete identity verification using a mobile resident registration card or driver's license will receive a verification mark on the platform. The government expects the measure to reduce the recent surge in secondhand-trading fraud.
"Most platforms currently rely on mobile phone-based identity verification, which has limitations such as the possibility of using burner phones," a ministry official said. "The aim is to enhance trust through mobile ID verification that allows facial confirmation."
Disputes have grown sharply alongside the rapid expansion of the secondhand market. According to an analysis of Korea Consumer Agency data by Rep. Lee Yang-soo of the National Assembly's National Policy Committee last month, the number of damage relief applications related to secondhand trading platforms reached 175 last year — roughly 10 times the level in 2022.
The nature of the damages is also shifting. While past cases were mostly fraud between individuals, consumer harm in payment and refund processes involving the platforms themselves is increasingly on the rise.
One user said they purchased a 1.8 million won laptop on a secondhand platform and canceled the transaction, but did not receive a refund because the card payment cancellation was delayed. Another user said they returned an item purchased through a secure payment service at the seller's request but never received their money back.
According to National Police Agency data, direct-transaction fraud cases rose from about 80,000 in 2021 to 120,000 last year, with related damages tripling from 257.4 billion won to 874.1 billion won over the same period.
■ Stronger Response to Flooding and Vehicle Ramming Incidents
The government is also pushing public-safety measures. In crowded areas such as Seoul Plaza and Haeundae Beach, it will expand the installation and maintenance of high-strength bollards to prevent vehicle ramming incidents. The interior ministry plans to conduct a full survey of local governments by August and begin repairing defective or damaged bollards from September.
To reduce damage from torrential rain, sticker-type markers will be installed in flood-prone areas to make stormwater drains easier to spot. The use of LED curb stones and lighting for nighttime visibility is also under review.
In addition, the government will expand the supply of stand-alone smoke detectors to older apartments and detached houses without sprinkler systems.
■ "Issue Children's Documents via Government24"; Tax Refunds Made Easier
Public-convenience services will also be expanded. Parents will soon be able to issue certificates for minor children online through the Government24 portal. Starting in June, disability certificates and passport reissuance applications will be available, with services later expanding to immigration record certificates.
Local tax refunds will also be simplified. The government plans to introduce a one-stop service — linked with private platforms such as KakaoTalk and banking apps — that allows users to inquire, apply for and receive refunds in a single process.
The government will also expand QR code-based services for verifying eligibility for discounts and exemptions, and improve the system for assigning location addresses to places without them, such as beaches and outdoor event venues.
"We will continue to develop life-oriented policies that allow citizens to directly feel the changes in their daily lives," Interior Minister Yoon Ho-jung said.
