The Ministry of Science and ICT has established a 'Secure Used Phone Transaction Business Operator Certification System' and a 'Secure Used Phone Transaction Fact Issuance System'. The purpose is to prevent damage to both sellers and buyers that may occur during used phone transactions.

The Ministry of Science and ICT announced that the revision of the Enforcement Decree of the Terminal Distribution Act, which stipulates the standards and procedures for certification of used phone safe transaction operators, and the revision of the Enforcement Decree of the Telecommunications Business Act, which stipulates the method of issuing used phone transaction confirmation certificates, were passed at the Cabinet meeting on the 23rd.

The 'Secure Used Phone Transaction Business Operator Certification System' is a system that certifies used phone distributors that meet certification criteria such as user protection requirements as secure transaction businesses. The certification is valid for 5 years.

Used phone buyers will be able to determine whether the used phone they are buying is reasonably priced, and sellers will be able to confirm whether their personal information has been properly deleted after the transaction.

The purpose is to provide safe and reliable business information to both used phone sellers and buyers.

According to this revision of the 'Enforcement Decree of the Terminal Distribution Act', the following are specified as certification standards: △Establishment of user protection measures such as personal information protection, △Establishment of a system for providing and managing information on the quality and price of used phones, △Establishment of procedures for issuing used phone performance certificates and returns/refunds, etc. The Minister of Science and ICT is to determine and announce details regarding the certification standards. The certification agency is the Korea Association for ICT Promotion (KAIT).

In addition, the 'Used Phone Transaction Fact Confirmation Service' is a system in which a specialized agency verifies used phone transaction information between sellers and buyers and whether the transaction is normal and issues a certificate (confirmation).

For example, if a seller maliciously reports a loss or theft after a used phone transaction, the buyer may not be able to use the used phone normally. However, if a transaction confirmation service is used, the used phone buyer can also exercise the right to release the lost or stolen phone, allowing them to use the used phone normally.

The Ministry of Science and ICT plans to complete preparatory work such as enacting public notices, establishing guidelines, and building and testing systems to ensure smooth implementation of the used phone safe transaction business operator certification system and the used phone transaction fact verification service, and then launch a pilot service within the year. In this process, we plan to sufficiently collect opinions from the field by operating research groups with the participation of experts from industry, academia, and research.

Minister of Science and ICT Lee Jong-ho said, “Recently, the number of consumers who feel the burden of purchasing expensive phones and turn to the used phone market has been increasing, but the revitalization of the used phone market has been limited due to concerns about personal information leaks and confusion about appropriate prices.” He added, “I hope that the used phone safe transaction business operator certification system and the used phone transaction fact confirmation service will make the used phone market more transparent and increase consumer trust, thereby revitalizing the used phone market and helping ease the burden of purchasing mobile phones for the public.”