The South Korean government will employ face recognition system for customs and security clearance at airports.

The Ministry of Science and ICT signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Justice on Tuesday to set up a system to identify airport passengers from face recognition. The ICT ministry said the project would contribute to the advancement of airport’s immigration system and promotion of AI industry.

Developers would be invited to the tender. The country’s airports expect the system could accelerate the AI industry and simplify security screening process of passenger as well as ensuring better safety.

Passengers current undergo multiple examinations - passport check, fingerprint screening and face check – to pass customs. But the AI-based system would significantly reduce authentication time and resources.

The ICT ministry and justice ministry will select promising companies in the first half of this year to develop related technologies. They will test operate the AI-based system by 2022 at the Incheon International Airport and expand it to other airports and ports later.

By Won Ho-sup and Choi Mira

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