South Korea Broadens Biometric Security with Palm Vein Tech

Published Date : 11/3/2025 

South Korea's Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA) has added palm vein biometrics to its national performance testing and certification program, reflecting the growing demand for advanced and contactless biometric solutions. 

South Korean officials are adding a sixth biometric modality to the national performance testing and certification program. Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA) announced the inclusion of palm vein biometrics in the program starting this month.

KISA noted the trends towards multi-modal biometrics and the shift from contact to contactless authentication, and says it is expanding and reorganizing its testing regime proactively to respond to these and other industry developments.

Palm vein is a contactless biometric modality that is hard to forge and highly accurate, and therefore in demand, particularly from the financial services sector, KISA says. The addition of palm vein biometrics to KISA’s program gives businesses domestic assurance of their effectiveness.

KISA operates the Korea National Biometric Test Center, which certifies biometric anti-spoofing technologies, fingerprint, finger vein, and iris biometrics, facial recognition, and now “dorsal hand vein recognition.” For hand vein biometrics, devices must return an equal error rate (EER) of 1 percent for fixed and 1.5 percent for dynamic deployments matching against three out of four databases constructed for the test, the organization explains.

Union Biometrics was certified to KISA’s standard for fingerprint presentation attack detection (PAD) earlier this year.

“We newly added the palm vein category to match the market situation in which biometric technology is rapidly advancing and diversifying,” says KISA Information Security Industry Division Head Oh Jin-young, as translated by ChosunBiz. “We will continue to actively reflect industry demand to enhance the global competitiveness of domestic biometric technology and spare no support so the biometric industry can take another leap forward.”

KISA's proactive approach to incorporating new biometric modalities ensures that the agency remains at the forefront of biometric technology advancements. This move is expected to bolster the security and reliability of biometric systems in various sectors, including finance, healthcare, and government services. By providing rigorous testing and certification, KISA aims to build trust and confidence in the use of biometric technologies within South Korea and internationally.

The inclusion of palm vein biometrics in the certification program is a significant step towards enhancing the security and user experience of biometric systems. As contactless technologies become increasingly prevalent, the demand for reliable and accurate biometric solutions will continue to grow. KISA's commitment to staying ahead of these trends will undoubtedly benefit the biometric industry and contribute to the development of more robust and user-friendly security solutions.

In summary, the addition of palm vein biometrics to KISA's certification program reflects the agency's commitment to innovation and the evolving needs of the biometric industry. This move is expected to drive further advancements in biometric technology and enhance the security and convenience of biometric systems in various applications. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS): 

Q: What is the Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA)?

A: The Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA) is a government agency in South Korea responsible for internet security and the promotion of information security technologies. It operates the Korea National Biometric Test Center, which certifies various biometric technologies.

Q: What is palm vein biometrics?

A: Palm vein biometrics is a contactless biometric modality that uses the unique pattern of veins in a person's palm for identification. It is highly accurate and difficult to forge, making it ideal for security applications.

Q: Why is KISA adding palm vein biometrics to its certification program?

A: KISA is adding palm vein biometrics to its certification program to match the market demand for advanced and contactless biometric solutions. This move aims to enhance the global competitiveness of domestic biometric technology.

Q: What are the benefits of contactless biometric technologies?

A: Contactless biometric technologies offer several benefits, including enhanced hygiene, improved user convenience, and reduced risk of identity theft. They are particularly useful in environments where hygiene is a concern, such as healthcare and public spaces.

Q: How does KISA's certification process for biometric technologies work?

A: KISA's certification process involves rigorous testing of biometric devices to ensure they meet specified performance standards, including accuracy and anti-spoofing capabilities. Devices must achieve a certain equal error rate (EER) to be certified.