Can't Use Digital ID or Govt24 in Korea? (국정자원 화재) Here’s What to Do

byAltie • • 2 min read
0

Korea’s digital public services have hit a major roadblock. If your mobile ID won’t load, Govt24 won’t open, or your local post office is in chaos—you’re not alone.

The cause? A fire at the National Information Resources Service (NIRS) (국가정보자원관리원) in Daejeon on Sept 26, 2025, knocked out core systems nationwide.

For foreign residents, this isn’t just annoying—it’s paralyzing. From visa processing to banking, Korea’s daily life runs on digital infrastructure. When that breaks, so does your access.

This guide is updated for Sept 28, 2025. Here's what you need to know—and what you can do right now.





Core Impact on Foreigners: Services Down

As of September 28, 2025, Korea’s public digital systems remain partially offline. If you're a foreign resident, here are the three critical areas where this outage may directly affect you.

Mobile ID Failure (모바일 신분증 오류)

What’s happening:
The Mobile ARC and Mobile Resident Registration Card systems are not verifying properly due to the central server outage.

How this affects you:

  • You may not be able to verify your ID at banks or financial institutions.

  • Hospitals and pharmacies may ask for physical identification.

  • Some domestic airports may reject digital IDs.

  • Online applications requiring mobile carrier-based verification may fail.

What to do:
Always carry your physical ARC (외국인등록증) or passport. If your ARC is being renewed, use the printed certificate issued at the immigration office—digital versions may not work.


Govt24 and Online Admin Freeze (정부24 마비)

What’s happening:
Govt24 (정부24), the main portal for civil documents and petitions, is down or severely delayed. Other linked platforms like 국민신문고 and 온나라 시스템 are also disrupted.

How this affects you:

  • You cannot print common documents like proof of residency or income.

  • Visa applications or administrative requests may be delayed.

  • Some ministries’ online services (e.g. tax, finance) may be unreliable.

What to do:
Plan for in-person visits. Contact your local district office (구청) or immigration office in advance to confirm availability and bring all original documents.


Post Office Disruption (우체국 마비)

What’s happening:
The Korean Post Office (우체국), which manages both logistics and banking, is also impacted due to reliance on the NIRS server.

How this affects you:

  • Parcel and letter delivery may be delayed.

  • Savings and remittance services through Post Office Bank (우체국 금융) may be limited or offline.

What to do:
Use private courier services like CJ Logistics, Lotte, or Hanjin for important deliveries. For financial services, use alternative banks that are not government-affiliated.


Immediate Workarounds: How to Get Things Done NOW

With Korea’s digital systems still down, here’s what to do—fast, simple, and paper-based.

ID & Banking: Go Physical

Mobile ID = Unusable.
Use your real documents.

  • Carry your ARC (외국인등록증) or passport at all times.

  • If your ARC is under renewal, bring the paper version of your temporary certificate.

  • Avoid mobile banking. Use bankbooks (통장), ATM cards, and keep cash on hand.


Admin Tasks: Visit in Person

Govt24 (정부24) is down. Everything is offline.

  • Call first. Ask if the office can process what you need.

  • Bring everything. Originals: lease, bills, IDs, photos.

  • Expect delays. Some tasks might still not be possible.


Some Websites Still Work

Not everything is dead. These portals may still be online:

Check status yourself before relying on them.


Parcels & Delivery: Avoid the Post Office

우체국 = Delayed, unstable.
Use private courier services:

  • CJ Logistics

  • Lotte

  • Hanjin

They run on their own networks.


Government Response & Recovery Status (as of Sept 28, 2025)

Here’s what the Korean government has said so far about the IT system failure and recovery.

Recovery Focus: Equipment First

  • The fire is out, but key infrastructure—especially lithium-ion batteries for UPS—was damaged.

  • Today (Sept 28), the goal is to restore basic network equipment.

  • If successful, 551 systems that weren’t directly damaged will begin phased reactivation.

Priority Order for System Recovery

  1. Public safety and security systems

  2. Core citizen services (like Govt24)

  3. Everything else (non-critical systems)

Damaged Systems: What’s Lost

  • 96 systems were hit directly by the fire.

  • These will be moved and rebuilt at the Daegu backup center.

  • This part of the recovery will take weeks or longer.

Structural Problem: The “3-Hour Promise” Failed

  • The government had promised that any system failure would be fixed within three hours using backups (이중화 시스템).

  • That didn’t happen.

  • The entire digital administration stalled for days, proving that the backup system was not fully operational.

Key takeaway:
This outage exposed a serious weakness. If one building fails, the whole system can go down. Don’t expect everything to come back online quickly.


Long-Term Prep: How to Survive the Next Outage

Korea is digital-first—but not failure-proof. As a foreigner, you need to be ready when systems go dark again.

Keep a Paper Backup of Everything

Don’t rely on apps or cloud storage alone. Make a physical document kit with:

  • ARC (외국인등록증) – the real card, not a photo

  • Proof of residency (외국인등록 사실증명)

  • Visa or stay permit printouts

  • Lease or rental contract

  • Health and vaccination records

  • Bank account info, including original bankbook (통장)

Store these in a waterproof folder and keep them updated.


Be Ready to Visit Offices in Person

When online systems fail, you'll need to go offline.

  • Know where your local 구청 or immigration office is

  • Practice key Korean phrases or ask a Korean friend for help

  • Bring all relevant documents—no digital lookup means no second chances


Prepare Financial Redundancy

  • Don’t put all your money in one digital-only bank

  • Keep some cash (현금) on hand for emergencies

  • Have at least one ATM-accessible account not tied to Govt24


Final tip:
This outage will pass—but others may come. If you live in Korea, treat this as your warning shot. Stay prepared, stay offline-ready.


FAQ for Foreign Residents

Here are answers to some urgent questions foreigners are asking right now.

Q1. My visa renewal deadline is next week. Govt24 is down. Will I get fined?

Probably not—but don’t assume.
The government is aware of the system outage and usually issues temporary deadline extensions. Still, call your local immigration office as soon as possible and document who you spoke to and when.

Q2. Was my personal data exposed in the NIRS fire?

No data breach confirmed.
Officials say the core servers were shut down safely before the fire spread. The issue is about access, not security—but the system’s fragility is now under scrutiny.

Q3. I just arrived and need to apply for my ARC. Should I expect delays?

Yes—maybe.
ARC applications are done in person, and immigration services may still be functional.
But support systems (payments, verification) may be slow. Bring all physical documents to avoid being turned away.

Q4. I need a certificate (e.g., Proof of Income). Govt24 is down. What now?

Try the original source.
For tax or income-related certificates, contact HomeTax or your 구청 directly.
Many district offices can issue paper copies even if Govt24 is not working.

Q5. Should I move my money out of Post Office Bank?

Not necessary—yet.
Post Office Bank was hit because it’s tied to government servers.
Commercial banks (Shinhan, Kookmin, etc.) are safe on private networks. Your money is secure, though transfers may be slower than usual.


Final Thoughts

Nobody expected Korea’s ultra-digital system to fail like this—but here we are.

For foreigners living here, this isn’t just an IT problem. It’s a disruption of how we live, move, and prove we exist in this country. But you’re not powerless.

By staying calm, switching to physical backups, and knowing where to go and who to call, you can ride out this storm.
Use this moment as a wake-up call—not just for now, but for the next time.

Visit HiKorea ➡︎


Official Links

Before visiting any government office, check current service status through official websites:

Disclaimer:
This guide is based on available data as of the latest update. Information may change. Always confirm with official sources before taking action.


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Altie

Hi, I’m Altie. After living in Japan for 18 years, I’m starting a new chapter back in Korea. This blog’s all about helping foreigners live smarter here — sharing practical tips from my own experience. From banking and government support to everyday life hacks, I share the stuff I wish I’d known sooner. Right now, I’m based in Gimpo, South Korea.

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