AI profile photos ineligible for national ID cards, govt. says

Promotional images for the AI-based profile photo generation service by popular camera app SNOW (SNOW)

AI-generated profile pictures are not eligible for use on Korean national ID cards, the government stated Tuesday, saying that such photos violate current guidelines prohibiting the use of “transformed” images.

The announcement follows the increasing popularity of AI profile photo services offered by prominent smartphone camera apps -- that of SNOW being the most notable.

SNOW's AI profile feature, introduced in May, allows users to upload 10 to 20 selfies from different angles and with varied facial expressions. For a fee -- 3,300 won for a 24-hour turnaround or 6,600 won for one-hour service -- users receive “high-quality, studio-like profile photos," according to a company press release.

Over 700,000 users have already taken advantage of SNOW's services in the month since the app's launch, the release states.

A tweet posted on June 20 mentioning the successful verification of a SNOW-generated profile photo for a reissued Korean national ID card garnered media interest. The process for reissuing ID cards involves a facial recognition program that measures the similarity of a new photo to a previous one. The minimum similarity score is 60 out 100.

While the individual behind the tweet declined any further public discussion or media engagement in a reply tweet, the subject prompted an official response from the government.

"A national ID card cannot be issued using a transformed photo," read the statement by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the department responsible for national ID cards.

This statement was clarified by Yoon Eun-ok, in charge of the resident registration data division, who told The Korea Herald that by "transformed," the Ministry means "falsified."

Yoon acknowledged that currently, there is no technology in place to distinguish AI-produced photos from non-AI altered images in the registration process, including those edited through tools like Photoshop. The only specific guideline the Ministry can provide now is that ID photos must be taken within a six-month window, according to Yoon.

Normally after applying for their first national ID card, Korean nationals can use that card indefinitely. Only in cases in which an ID is lost or destroyed would they need to submit a new photo for a replacement ID.

For individuals above age 17 applying for their first national ID card, in-person identity verification at local government offices is still mandatory.

By Moon Joon-hyun(mjh@heraldcorp.com)