"Forged IDs Easily Bypass Convenience Stores, Bars, and Motels... Delinquency Encouraged for Hundreds of Thousands of Won"

Sophisticated Fake IDs Spreading via Social Media
Fake Mobile IDs Imitating 'Government24' Also Circulating
"Lack of Awareness That This Is Official Document Forgery and a Serious Crime"

"Available for use like an app at convenience stores, bars, and anywhere. Can be produced 24 hours a day. Please inquire."

On social networking services (SNS), the production and sale of sophisticated forged identification cards are on the rise. Not only does this encourage deviant behavior among teenagers and lead to serious crimes such as forgery of official documents, but recently, it has also been exploited in larger-scale crimes such as real estate fraud, prompting urgent calls for crackdowns.

A notice saying "No entry without ID card, driver's license, or passport" is posted on the entrance door of a store in Mapo-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jaehyun Park

On April 28, searching for keywords like "ID forgery" or "ID card production" on X (formerly Twitter) and Telegram brought up dozens of posts selling forged identification cards. The sellers claimed that their IDs could perfectly deceive identity checks not only at convenience stores, bars, and karaoke rooms, but also when transferring concert tickets or entering pre-recorded TV shows at broadcasting stations.

When contacted via Telegram messages, it was found that the going rate was in the hundreds of thousands of won. One seller emphasized, "A physical ID card is sold for 250,000 won and a driver's license for 300,000 won," adding that these were the lowest prices in the industry. Some sellers claimed to replicate holograms to closely resemble genuine IDs and offered courier delivery.

Mobile identification cards can also be easily forged. When accessing a link sent by a fake mobile ID seller, a screen appeared that mimicked the layout of the Government24 mobile ID. According to a company representative, "By entering the name, issue date, resident registration number, and address, the ID can be used anytime at convenience stores, bars, motels, and so on."

Such forged IDs stimulate the deviant impulses of teenagers, essentially providing them with the means to engage in delinquent acts such as purchasing alcohol and cigarettes. Although recent legal revisions allow business operators to avoid penalties such as business suspension if it is determined that they have fulfilled their duty to verify identity, there are concerns from the field that the level of forgery has become so advanced that it is difficult to detect. Park Myunggyu (age 70), a convenience store operator in Mapo-gu, Seoul, said, "If someone deliberately brings in a forged ID that even mimics the hologram and texture, there is no way to verify it."

When searching for the keyword 'fake ID' on social networking services (SNS), a series of sales accounts and posts posted by counterfeit companies appeared. Screenshot of X (formerly Twitter).

The bigger problem is that such forged IDs are now being used as tools for fraud in real estate transactions. Fraudsters create fake IDs using the personal information of property owners, along with fabricated lease contracts, then request brokers to sell the property as a "quick sale," absconding with the deposit after closing the deal. As cases of such fraud have emerged, the Korea Association of Realtors issued a notice on the 7th of this month, urging caution.

Under current law, purchasing or using a forged ID is considered a serious crime. The crime of forging official documents and the crime of using forged official documents are each punishable by up to 10 years in prison. There is no provision for a fine, so if found guilty, an immediate prison sentence is imposed, underscoring the severity of the offense.

However, it has been pointed out that for teenagers, the threshold for committing such crimes is lower because prison sentences are rarely imposed. Lawyer Kwak Junho of Law Firm Cheong explained, "Legally, this constitutes a serious crime that can result in a prison sentence, but in the case of teenagers, it often ends with a warning or a suspension of indictment. For this reason, the barrier to committing these crimes is lower for them," he noted.

Government24 mobile ID screen (left) and forged mobile ID screen (right). The forged ID allows screen capture, but the Government24 ID does not allow capturing. Photo by Jaehyun Park

There are also concerns about the potential for secondary crimes and damages using forged IDs. Personal information such as one's own or another person's photo and resident registration number, which are handed over to the forger in the process of producing a forged ID, can be exploited in crimes such as voice phishing and romance scams. In fact, during reporting, one forgery business exposed the name, address, birth date, and resident registration number of a client in a Telegram group notice in retaliation for not receiving payment on time.

Kwak Daekyung, professor at the College of Police & Criminal Justice at Dongguk University, pointed out, "If someone uses another person's personal information to make or order a forged ID, not only are they subject to charges of forging official documents and using forged official documents, but also to additional penalties for violating the Personal Information Protection Act. This can lead to harsher punishments and the risk of secondary crimes such as romance scams."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.