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igotthisguitar
Joined: 08 Apr 2003
Location: South Korea (Permanent Vacation)
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 Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2005 10:37 pm Post subject: Korea to Introduce Biometric Passport |
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Korea to Introduce Biometric Passport
By Park Song-wu
Staff Reporter
South Korea plans to introduce a biometric passport system next year in an effort to join the United States�� Visa Waiver Program (VWP), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said on Thursday.
The new passport system makes it possible for immigration officials to verify the identity of travelers through the use of biometric technology, such as inkless finger scans and digital photographs.
After a one-year test period, the government plans to complete the new passport system in 2007, ministry officials said.
South Korea��s entry into the visa waiver program will allow its citizens to travel to the U.S., either for business or pleasure, for 90 days without a visa. But Seoul needs to meet a number of preconditions first.
``Some of the requirements for the (visa waiver) program include the use of a biometrically enabled passport,���� Maura Harty, U.S. assistant secretary of consular affairs, said at a press briefing in Seoul.
Currently, 27 countries are on the visa waiver list. In Asia, Australia, Japan and Brunei are the only countries under the VWP. The list has not been updated since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the U.S. in 2001.
The countries, which made the list, need to adopt the biometrically enabled passport system by Oct. 26 next year.
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/nation/200512/kt2005120822524411950.htm |
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crazylemongirl
Joined: 23 Mar 2003
Location: almost there...
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| Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2005 1:16 am Post subject: Re: Korea to Introduce Biometric Passport |
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I think the problem with Koreans getting visa-free entry has more to do with them overstaying their visas then anything else.
| igotthisguitar wrote: |
Currently, 27 countries are on the visa waiver list. In Asia, Australia, Japan and Brunei are the only countries under the VWP. The list has not been updated since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the U.S. in 2001.
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Australia is part of Asia, yet they left kiwiland off the list? Zuh? |
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igotthisguitar
Joined: 08 Apr 2003
Location: South Korea (Permanent Vacation)
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| Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 5:27 am Post subject: Re: Korea to Introduce Biometric Passport |
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| crazylemongirl wrote: |
I think the problem with Koreans getting visa-free entry has more to do with them overstaying their visas then anything else.
| igotthisguitar wrote: |
Currently, 27 countries are on the visa waiver list. In Asia, Australia, Japan and Brunei are the only countries under the VWP. The list has not been updated since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the U.S. in 2001. |
Australia is part of Asia, yet they left kiwiland off the list? Zuh? |
While it's interesting you should point this out, i was hoping more people would more pick up on the issues which arise from the implementation of BIOMETRIC recognition technology & personal data storage.
You familiar with the story about the "unsuspecting" frog being placed in the pot of SLOWLY heated water?
http://www.biometrics.co.uk/
Japanese House of Representatives clears bill
to fingerprint, photograph arrivals
Bill to fingerprint, photograph arrivals clears Lower House
The House of Representatives passed a bill Thursday to require fingerprinting and photographing of foreigners entering Japan as a measure to prevent terrorism. 
Despite strong criticism from opposition parties, the Japan Federation of Bar Associations and human rights groups, including Amnesty International Japan, the majority of Lower House members voted for the bill.
The bill will be further debated in the Upper House and is expected to be approved by the chamber in the current Diet session due to end June 19.
With the revision of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Law, the estimated 6 million to 7 million foreigners entering Japan annually will be obliged to provide personal identification information in electromagnetic format, including fingerprints and photographs.
The collected personal information will be electronically registered and collated with a blacklist of data of past deportees and internationally wanted criminals.
Those who refuse to provide the data or people who are recognized as terrorists by the Justice Ministry can be deported.
The measure, however, exempts foreigners under age 16, ethnic Koreans and other special permanent residents, those invited by the government and people entering Japan for diplomatic or official purposes.
Lawyer Mitsuru Namba expressed concern over the bill, stressing it could lead to discrimination against foreigners.
"This is a measure to strengthen control and surveillance over foreigners," Namba said. "By targeting only foreigners, (this bill) could encourage prejudice and discrimination against foreigners, and I believe it could disturb the society in which we coexist with foreigners."
After Thursday's vote in a plenary session of the House of Representatives, members of the opposition parties told reporters they plan to continue arguing against the bill in the Upper House because there are too many vague points, including how the information will be preserved 
"The problem (regarding this revision) is that it involves biometric information like fingerprints and facial photographs," said Democratic Party of Japan lawmaker Satoshi Takayama.
"People cannot change (this information) even if they wanted to. This is completely different from other personal information, like where you live or your bank savings. We believe that biometric information must be handled with extreme caution."
By MASAMI ITO
Staff writer
The Japan Times
http://www.findbiometrics.com/viewarticle.php?id=199 |
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