The South Korean government will introduce stringent regulatory measures to curb the proliferation of "dae-po" phones—illegally registered mobile devices increasingly linked to voice phishing and financial crimes. The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) announced on June 30 a comprehensive policy framework designed to prevent the illegal use of mobile phones. The measures build upon a government-wide crackdown on telecommunications-enabled fraud initiated last year. According to MSIT, the policy establishes tailored preventive frameworks based on specific types of device misuse, while strengthening post-incident enforcement and legal penalties. The shift reflects the expanding role of smartphones as primary tools for financial transactions and digital identity verification. To prevent identity theft, the government will mandate facial recognition authentication at the point of mobile phone activation. Following a pilot phase conducted last year, the system will be introduced sequentially starting July 6. The finalized implementation plan incorporates guidelines from the Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) and the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK). During the initial rollout, users opting for facial recognition must complete the verification step within three attempts to proceed with line activation. If facial recognition fails due to technical errors, alternative identity verification methods—such as mobile identification apps or physical identity certificates issued on the same day—will be provided. In October, the government plans to codify the legal grounds for facial recognition by amending the Enforcement Decree of the Telecommunications Business Act. By November, a subscription restriction service, which previously required manual opt-in by users, will be applied by default during contract signing. For foreign nationals, MSIT will collaborate with the Ministry of Justice to upgrade verification infrastructure and strictly enforce a "one person, one line" rule for prepaid SIM cards. The framework also targets "identity lending"—the illegal transfer of mobile lines. To curb fraudulent financial schemes where vulnerable