📱 How to solve when ARC identity verification doesn't work well

Just arrived in Korea and finally got your ARC and Korean phone number, but now you're stuck because you can't complete identity verification on delivery apps or shopping malls?

You even made a phone number and bank account, but you don't know why it’s not working—it's frustrating and confusing, right? Totally understandable.

Today, I’ll walk you through the most common reasons for foreigner ID verification failure and a step-by-step checklist you must check first! ✨

🔤 Check name spacing and capitalization

It's upsetting when you write your name correctly but still get errors. The most common reason for foreigner ID verification failure is the way your name is written!

1. You must enter your English name exactly as it appears on your ARC (Alien Registration Card).

2. Everything must match—capital letters, spaces, and hyphens (-).

3. Please check if the last name-first name order matches what's on your passport or ID.

👉 Just matching these can greatly increase your verification success!

📞 Carrier information update required

Are you having trouble getting Kakao or Naver verification even though your phone number is registered under your name? If you registered your phone with a passport, make sure to check this part.

1. If your number was created with your passport, after you receive your ARC, you must contact your carrier and update your info using your ARC.

2. The name you enter in the app, the name registered with your carrier, and your bank account name—all three must be identical to pass verification.

3. Prepaid or roaming phones may be restricted, so consider switching to a postpaid plan.

👉 Just updating your carrier info can solve these frustrating problems!

💛 Kakao & Naver verification tips

It's really inconvenient to be blocked from signing up for essential simple payment services in Korea, right? Each service has different requirements, so check them carefully.

1. The Kakao Certificate requires both a domestic carrier subscription and a domestic bank account under your name to be issued.

2. If you have trouble with Naver real-name verification, you can get help by submitting documents to the Customer Center (1588-3820).

3. From June 5, 2026, Naver Map will allow ID verification using your passport for reservations.

👉 It may look complicated, but if you tackle them one by one, using Korean apps will not be a problem!

✅ Quick solution checklist at a glance

For international students overwhelmed about where to start, here’s a step-by-step breakdown. What you fix first is more important than why something doesn’t work!

1. First, check if your ARC information has been properly updated in the database the day after issuance.

2. Check if the names registered with your carrier and bank account are exactly the same as on your ARC.

3. If your Hangul name was added to your ARC after June 8, 2020, real-name verification may be possible in Korean as well.

4. Still not working? Then contact the customer service center of each app.

👉 If you check each item step by step, you'll see the registration complete screen before you know it!

In closing

✔️ Make sure name entries (capitalization, spacing, etc.) are perfectly consistent on ARC, carrier, and bank account

✔️ Update your carrier info after receiving ARC if your phone number was registered using your passport

✔️ Check real-name verification requirements and use customer service for each app like Kakao/Naver

Life in Korea may feel tricky at first, even with a single verification step, but you’ll get used to it soon—don’t worry too much! We always support your quick and easy settlement in Korea 💖

💡 VIVISA will help you.

VIVISA organizes the following information in an easy-to-understand way.

• Foreigner & international student visa information

• Part-time & employment regulations

• Essential Korean administrative guides

For studying and working in Korea, don’t worry anymore—start easily with VIVISA! ✨