If you have tried ordering on Coupang, booking concert tickets on Interpark, or setting up Toss in South Korea, you have likely run into the digital brick wall known as 본인인증 (Identity Verification). Behind nearly every local app sits PASS—South Korea’s unified mobile verification service run by SKT, KT, and LG U+.

Getting PASS to work as a foreign resident requires linking your Alien Registration Card (ARC) properly.

Why Your Passport SIM Won’t Work

Many expats land in Korea, pick up a prepaid SIM at Incheon Airport using their passport, and wonder why identity verification fails.

Korean identity verification laws require a 13-digit resident registration number or Foreigner Registration Number. A passport-registered phone number can make calls and load data, but it cannot verify who you are online. To unlock the entire digital ecosystem, your telecom plan must be tied directly to your physical ARC.

How to Set Up PASS with Your ARC

• Update your mobile carrier profile: Once your ARC is in hand, visit your telecom branch (or contact your MVNO provider) to update your account from your passport number to your ARC number.

• Download the correct PASS app: Search your app store for the version specific to your telecom provider (PASS by SKT, PASS by KT, or PASS by U+). If you use a budget network (알뜰폰), download the app for the parent network your SIM operates on.

• Match your legal name exactly: Type your name in ALL CAPS and in the exact order shown on the front of your ARC—typically LASTNAME FIRSTNAME MIDDLENAME. Even an extra space or omitted middle name will cause the system to reject the match.

• Set your PIN or biometrics: Complete the SMS confirmation, set a 6-digit passcode, and enable Face ID/fingerprint authentication.

Quick Troubleshooting Checklist

• Check the 'Foreigner' box: Always toggle the nationality field from 내국인 (Domestic) to 외국인 (Foreigner) before submitting.

• Carrier name mismatch: If registration fails repeatedly, log into your mobile carrier's portal to see how the clerk typed your name in their system—it must match letter-for-letter.

• MVNO selection: If using an MVNO (like Woori Mobile, Chingu, or KT M Mobile), ensure you select 알뜰폰 instead of the primary telecom brand on the verification popup.

Once your ARC is linked, PASS turns a multi-step SMS maze into a one-tap biometric approval, opening up everything from mobile banking to late-night food delivery.