Applications to change resident registration numbers more than double in 3 years amid fraud, hacking

Applications to change resident registration numbers from people who have suffered or fear personal data breaches through fraud and hacking have more than doubled over the past three years, new data shows.

According to figures submitted by the Ministry of Interior and Safety to Rebuilding Korea Party lawmaker Kim Seon-min of the National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information, Broadcasting and Communications Committee, a total of 7,196 people applied to change their resident registration numbers between 2023 and August 2026.

Applications related to financial harm rose from 1,719 in 2023 to 1,988 in 2025, an increase of 269 cases, or 15.6 percent. Applications related to physical harm rose from 223 to 247 over the same period, up 24 cases, or 10.8 percent.

Among financial harm cases, voice phishing accounted for the largest share at 3,220 applications, followed by fraud, hacking and other causes at 2,535, and identity theft at 571.

Among physical harm cases, domestic violence was the most common reason at 334 applications, followed by assault and threats at 265, sexual violence at 161, and school violence and other causes at 110.

Particularly notable was the surge in applications citing fraud, hacking and other causes, which climbed from 421 in 2023 to 685 in 2024 and 870 in 2025 — an increase of 449 cases, or more than double the 2023 figure.

The resident registration number change regime has its limits, however, as it functions as a reactive remedy available only after harm has occurred or is deemed highly likely.

In practice, the approval rate for applications has been falling — from 65.2 percent in 2023 to 61.7 percent in 2024 and 54.0 percent in 2025, dropping further to 42.5 percent as of the end of August 2026.

"Forcing people to change their resident registration numbers after their personal data has already been leaked through fraud or hacking is nothing more than an after-the-fact measure that makes victims bear the burden," Kim said. "To reduce the number of people who have to go as far as changing their numbers, the government must strengthen preventive measures that stop personal data breaches from happening in the first place."

Kim added that the government should not rely on what amounts to "locking the stable door after the horse has bolted," and instead reduce unnecessary collection and storage of resident registration numbers, proactively audit the security practices of institutions holding large volumes of such data, and follow through on fixing any vulnerabilities identified until remediation is complete.