South Korea has officially added palm vein biometrics to its national certification program, marking a significant step toward broader adoption of contactless digital identity systems. The Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA) announced the update this week, citing rapid advancements in multi-modal authentication and a global shift from fingerprint-based systems to more sophisticated, contact-free solutions. Palm vein recognition—hailed for its accuracy and resistance to forgery—uses near-infrared light to detect unique vein patterns beneath the skin, making it nearly impossible to replicate. Financial institutions and government agencies are already showing high demand for the technology, which now joins KISA’s list of certified modalities alongside fingerprint, iris, facial, and finger vein recognition.

KISA’s expansion reflects South Korea’s ambition to become a global leader in biometric and AI-driven identity management. Devices certified under the new “dorsal hand vein recognition” category must meet strict performance benchmarks, including an equal error rate (EER) of 1% for fixed systems and 1.5% for dynamic applications. KISA officials say the move anticipates the coming wave of digital credential systems that will integrate across finance, healthcare, and government infrastructure. While marketed as innovation, the initiative also reinforces a growing worldwide trend—one that merges identity, security, and surveillance into a unified framework, inching closer to what many prophecy watchers warn could become the technological foundation for a global control system.

SOURCE: Biometric Update