The “Firsts” and “Bests” of Government Innovation

The Korean Government will accredit the “Firsts” of our innovations that contributed to the public’s comfort and safety, and select the “Best” cases of government innovation to spread as examples to our many institutions.

The First

First In Korea Digital Vaccination Certificate (COOV)

Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency
2023-12-29

(%EC%B5%9C%EC%A2%85)%20%EC%A0%95%EB%B6%80%ED%98%81%EC%8B%A0%20%EC%B5%9C%EC%B4%88(%EC%B5%9C%EC%B4%88%EB%A7%8C)%2083x40.jpg

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), in 2021, introduced a Digital Vaccination Certificate System (COOV) that completely restricted forgery for the first time in the world.

With infectious diseases keeping us on our toes at all times, with COOV, you can access your vaccination information with safety and convenience.

Content

1.%20%EC%BF%A0%EB%B8%8C%20%EC%86%8C%EA%B0%9C%20%EC%9D%B4%EB%AF%B8%EC%A7%80_%EC%A7%88%EB%B3%91%EA%B4%80%EB%A6%AC%EC%B2%AD%20%EC%BD%94%EB%A1%9C%EB%82%9819%20%EC%98%88%EB%B0%A9%EC%A0%91%EC%A2%85%20%EC%9B%B9%EC%82%AC%EC%9D%B4%ED%8A%B8.JPG

√ Overview

√ The Birth of a System

√ Accomplishments and expansion

■ Covid-19 Vaccination records in the palm of your hand.

The Covid-19 Digital Vaccination Certificate System (COOV) is a system that electronically provides proof of vaccination. In the form of a mobile application that anyone can easily install with a smartphone, the certification it provides is international, allowing usage overseas.

Through a simple self-verification process for identity, an individual’s personal identification and vaccination records can be confirmed on the COOV app, and desired information can be shared with another individual through a QR code, with authenticity verified in real-time.

2.%20%EC%BF%A0%EB%B8%8C%20%EB%B0%B1%EC%8B%A0%EC%A0%95%EB%B3%B4%20%ED%99%95%EC%9D%B8%20%EB%B0%8F%20%EB%82%B4%EC%97%AD%EA%B2%80%EC%A6%9D%20%EC%A0%9C%EA%B3%B5_%EC%BD%94%EB%A1%9C%EB%82%9819%20%EC%98%88%EB%B0%A9%EC%A0%91%EC%A2%85%20%EC%9B%B9%EC%82%AC%EC%9D%B4%ED%8A%B8.jpg

[Left] A screen capture showing vaccination record verification and sharing. ⓒ KDCA

When Covid-19 was spreading worldwide, the Korean government operated solutions such as quarantine passes to limit further proliferation and damage. The public had no choice but to suffer the inconvenience of verifying their vaccination status in everyday life and when travelling abroad However, the paper-based Covid-19 vaccination certificates were difficult to issue and store, with the problem of being vulnerable to forgery.

With this problem in hand, the KDCA, on April 15th, 2021, began distribution for the COOV App, the world’s first blockchain-based Covid-19 digital vaccination certificate system that could, in principle, prevent forgery. The Korean public could now easily and conveniently verify their Covid-19 vaccination status.

※ COOV : A combine word meaning ‘COvid-19 OVercome’, the name embodied Korea’s will to overcome Covid-19.

Beginning in July of the same year, COOV was connected to private platform (Kakao, Naver) that had been providing digital entry list services. Now, the public could conveniently verify their vaccination status through their mobile app of choice.

3.%20%EC%B9%B4%ED%86%A1%20%EC%A7%80%EA%B8%89%20%EB%B0%B1%EC%8B%A0%EC%A0%91%EC%A2%85%20%EC%A6%9D%EB%AA%85%20%ED%99%95%EC%9D%B8_%EC%B9%B4%EC%B9%B4%EC%98%A4%20%EC%9B%B9%EC%82%AC%EC%9D%B4%ED%8A%B8.jpg

■ A Safe Covid-19 Digital Vaccination Certificate Born from Blockchain Technology!

Blockchain and Decentralized Identity (DID) technology was applied to COOV to prevent forgery and confirm validity for digital vaccination certificates.

※ Blockchain Labs, the startup that internally developed the Blockchain and DID technology, provided the COOV app with the functionality, free of charge.

The service’s blockchain network, operated directly by the KDCA, only stored Public key information that could verify the fidelity of digital vaccination certificates, while personal information such as resident registrations numbers are excluded from storage.

COOV, by establishing a blockchain consensus algorithm that does not utilize cryptocurrency tokens, prevented any fees from using the blockchain, and is operated separately from crypto assets. Furthermore, vaccination records and provided with a real-time generated Dynamic QR, allowing safe management by preventing third parties to confirm the verification details.

Because DID technology is applied to COOV, the user’s information is only stored in their smartphone, not a centralized server. The user can directly customize the how much personal information (name and date of birth), other than core vaccination information, that they share

■ The COOV app, a Standard of Quarantine Security in Korea and Beyond!

The KDCA, beginning on November 15th, 2021, expanded its mutual verification system for digital vaccination certificates, starting with Singapore and leading on to Vietnam and the Philippines.

Later on, in July, 2022, the format of the European Union’s Digital Covid-19 Certificate (EU DCC) was applied to COOV, allowing COOV vaccine record verification, even in EU member nations. As of April, 2023, the COOV app is used as n international certificate in 75 nations, including the EU.

4.%20%EC%BF%A0%EB%B8%8C%20%EA%B5%AD%EC%A0%9C%EC%A6%9D%EB%AA%85%EC%84%9C%20%EB%B0%9C%EA%B8%89%20%EB%B0%8F%20%EA%B2%80%EC%A6%9D%20%ED%99%94%EB%A9%B4%20EU.%EC%8B%B1%EA%B0%80%ED%8F%AC%EB%A5%B4_%EC%A7%88%EB%B3%91%EA%B4%80%EB%A6%AC%EC%B2%AD.jpg

The DID and blockchain technology applied to COOV was affirmed internationally, with it being exported to Singapore. COOV was also the center of attention worldwide, with the Linux Foundation officially requesting technological support regarding the applied technologies.

Meanwhile, the COOV app, since its introduction, has accumulated approximately 31 million downloads, 290 million cases of certificate issuing, and 2 billion collective cases of certificate verification, solidifying its status as an outstanding app of the Korean public.

COOV, a safe Covid-19 digital vaccination certificate verification system, implemented by the KDCA for the first time in the world, is expected to expedite the development of quarantine security systems, not just in Korea, but all around the world.

Next First in Korea Priority Signaling for Emergency Vehicles.

Prev The Braille Passport