Era of biometrics begins (The Korea Herald)

Korea-US Travel Agreement

US and Korea to announce reciprocal trusted traveler agreement

Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Acting Commissioner David V. Aguilar and Republic of Korea Minster of Justice Jae-Jin Kwon will jointly announce a reciprocal agreement for each nation’s trusted traveler programs – the U.S. Global Entry and Korea Smart Entry Service – Tuesday, June 12 at Washington Dulles International Airport.

h/t @m2sys

Korea: Multi-Modal Biometric Immigration Checks

Korea to Install Fingerprint and Facial Recognition System (IT Times - Korea via @m2sys)

The Ministry of Justice announced on December 26 that non-Koreans aged over 17 who enter Korea will have to be fingerprinted and have their picture taken starting on January 1, 2012.

The regulation went into effect in September last year but it only applied to those who are suspected of forging identification or suspected terrorists. The target of the regulation was expanded in July this year to long-term foreign residents in Korea and will be expanded again to all foreigners who enter the country. Non-Koreans under 17 years old and those with special requests from diplomats or governors will be exempted.

Korea and Visa-Free US Travel

Koreans to Benefit from Automated Immigration Checks in U.S. (The Chosun Ilbo)

To benefit, travelers have to register with a smart entry system Korea implements to get approval from both governments as "trusted travelers." "Trusted travelers" are those whose biometric information, including fingerprints and photos, is registered with the government, and who are deemed to present no risk.

Yesterday, it was Taiwan; today it's Korea.

Strengthening ID assurance by issuing biometric passports has become a prerequisite to any new bi-lateral or multi-lateral agreements on visa free travel.

South Korea: Biometrics and Airport Self-Service Reduce Hassle, Increase Efficiency

Verifying travelers via facial recognition (MSNBC.com via @m2sys)

First launched in 2006, the system encompasses eight self-service operations, including u-self check-in, u-bag drop, u-immigration and u-boarding. Under the system, said Park, check-in now takes less than three minutes, getting through the boarding gate takes less than 15 seconds and document-checking takes less than 20 seconds.