ID :
72884
Thu, 07/30/2009 - 13:51
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/72884
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S. Korea to abolish 100-year-old personal seal registration system
SEOUL, July 29 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's government said Wednesday it plans to abolish its time-honored personal seal registration system by 2013 as part of efforts to stem the growing forgery of personal identification documents and better adapt to the demands of the electronic era.
Under the current system dating back about 100 years, all South Korean adults are
obliged to register their personal seals, called ingam, with the government,
which issues a certificate of seal registration, a must in almost all significant
business transactions and civil services.
The personal seal registration certificate, a system first introduced here in
1914 by Japanese colonial rulers, is an important item that substitutes for a
signature at times such as registering with a real estate agent and borrowing
money.
At present, 32.89 million South Korean nationals, or 66.5 percent of the entire
population, have personal seals registered with the authorities, while a total of
48.46 seal certificates were issued last year, incurring enormous social and
economic costs, according to government data. Hundreds of personal seal forgery
cases are also reported every year.
The Ministry of Public Administration and Security said the government plans to
scrap 60 percent of official demands for the personal seal registration
certificates this year, with the remaining 40 percent set to be gradually
abolished over the next five years.
The ministry noted that electronic certificates, signatures, notarial
authentication and other new means of identification will replace personal seal
certificates.
The sweeping administrative affairs reform plan was reported to President Lee
Myung-bak during a meeting of the Presidential Commission on National
Competitiveness.
"The abolition of the personal seal registration system is expected to sharply
reduce labor costs of civil servants, as well as social and economic expenses,
while leading to a considerable decline in crimes, legal disputes and other
social problems," said a ministry official.
Under the current system dating back about 100 years, all South Korean adults are
obliged to register their personal seals, called ingam, with the government,
which issues a certificate of seal registration, a must in almost all significant
business transactions and civil services.
The personal seal registration certificate, a system first introduced here in
1914 by Japanese colonial rulers, is an important item that substitutes for a
signature at times such as registering with a real estate agent and borrowing
money.
At present, 32.89 million South Korean nationals, or 66.5 percent of the entire
population, have personal seals registered with the authorities, while a total of
48.46 seal certificates were issued last year, incurring enormous social and
economic costs, according to government data. Hundreds of personal seal forgery
cases are also reported every year.
The Ministry of Public Administration and Security said the government plans to
scrap 60 percent of official demands for the personal seal registration
certificates this year, with the remaining 40 percent set to be gradually
abolished over the next five years.
The ministry noted that electronic certificates, signatures, notarial
authentication and other new means of identification will replace personal seal
certificates.
The sweeping administrative affairs reform plan was reported to President Lee
Myung-bak during a meeting of the Presidential Commission on National
Competitiveness.
"The abolition of the personal seal registration system is expected to sharply
reduce labor costs of civil servants, as well as social and economic expenses,
while leading to a considerable decline in crimes, legal disputes and other
social problems," said a ministry official.
