Politics · South Korea · 1 hr ago
South Korea's used-phone safety scheme has issued 886 trade certificates
South Korea introduced a used-phone safety scheme in May 2025 to make buying and selling second-hand phones safer.
It certifies businesses that meet standards for things such as deleting personal data and sharing price information.
Its trade certificate can help a buyer request the removal of a phone block if a seller falsely reports the phone as lost or stolen after a sale.
By the end of September 2026, the scheme had issued 886 certificates, including 570 during 2026.
South Korea had an estimated 2.24 million used-phone sales between individuals in 2025, but certificates are not required for every sale, so the figures do not show the scheme's exact use rate.
A government survey found 39.7% of consumers had never heard of the scheme, as had 31.9% of used-phone businesses.
The government allocated 20 billion won for related work over two years and had spent 17 billion by the end of September 2026; lawmaker Han Jun-ho urged wider links with trading platforms and more businesses to join the certification scheme.
South Korea’s used-phone safety scheme issued 886 transaction certificates from its launch on May 28, 2025, through the end of September 2026.
The scheme’s use remains limited compared with an estimated 2.24 million person-to-person used-phone transactions in 2025.
A government survey found that 39.7% of general users had never heard of the scheme, while 11.1% said they knew it well.
The scheme certifies eligible used-phone businesses and lets buyers use proof of a legitimate transaction to request removal of a device block.
Government spending on related work reached 17 billion won by the end of September 2026, against budgets of 10 billion won in each of 2025 and 2026.
- Who
- South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT runs the scheme. The figures were submitted to lawmaker Han Jun-ho.
- What
- The scheme issued 886 used-phone transaction certificates from its launch through September 2026.
- When
- It began on May 28, 2025; the reported figures cover through the end of September 2026.
- Where
- South Korea.
- Why
- It aims to reduce consumer harm and build trust in used-phone sales, including by helping legitimate buyers seek removal of blocks on phones falsely reported lost or stolen.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
South Korea’s used-phone safety scheme began.
The scheme issued 316 transaction certificates.
A government-commissioned survey found that 39.7% of general users had never heard of the scheme.
The scheme issued 570 certificates, bringing the cumulative total to 886 by the end of September.
- Certificates issued
- 886 through September 2026
- Scheme launch
- May 28, 2025
- Certificates issued in 2025
- 316
- Certificates issued in January–September 2026
- 570
- General users who had never heard of the scheme
- 39.7%
- Related government budget
- 10 billion won in each of 2025 and 2026; 17 billion won spent by end-September 2026
3 sources
What people are saying
Used phones are a practical alternative that can ease the burden of device prices, and the safety-trading scheme is a meaningful system that helps people buy and sell used phones with confidence.
Since the system has not been in place for long, this is an important time to take root in the field.