Nol Universe Introduces 'Face Pass' System to Prevent Scalping in Entertainment Industry

CTO Im Kyung-ryong joined Interpark Triples in 2022 after working at Naver, NCSOFT, and Nexon. He is currently responsible for the ticket sector at Nol Universe.

Nol Universe Entertainment Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Im Kyung-ryong discussed the company's collaboration with HYBE and Toss to create a new system called 'Face Pass' to authenticate faces and prevent scalping in the entertainment industry.

The system, which will be introduced for the first time at the fan meeting site of the idol group TWS from Feb. 14 to 16, aims to address the persistent issue of fraudulent reservations.

"The three companies, each at the pinnacle of their fields, have challenged new areas such as 'entry in 1 second' and 'perfect prevention of scalping,'" CTO Im said. He added, "'Even if it seems impossible, we must challenge ourselves to find better solutions. This is where the three companies reached a consensus.'"

Participants will be able to confirm their identity quickly with just facial recognition, without needing separate tickets or identification. The time taken for identity verification is just 1 second. At this time, the registered face per account cannot be reused, and registered faces cannot be changed, enabling the prevention of scalping.

The following is a Q&A with CTO Im.

Please explain the process of implementing Face Pass.

"By tapping the 'Face Pass' tab in the 'My Page' section of the Toss or Interpark app, users can register their face for the corresponding ID account. While it may seem that the audience uploads a picture of their face, the technology implemented by Toss transforms the patterns of the face into information values to build a database.

For example, the overall patterns of the face, such as the height of the nose or the distance between the eyes, are analyzed and stored as data. When the event organizers' iPads containing the Face Pass system capture a user's face on-site, it checks whether the information values converted from that picture match the previously stored pattern information.

Face Pass system is being introduced in February. Will entry be impossible without registering a face?

"No. Customers who have not registered their facial information can enter by submitting their identification to staff and going through the existing identity verification process. However, as the scale of K-pop performances and fan meetings has grown recently, verifying faces one by one can lead to increased waiting times, which is inefficient. To address this, we introduced Face Pass to allow fans and attendees to enter more quickly and conveniently."

If a face was registered when purchasing a ticket, will entry be impossible if the face changes due to cosmetic procedures?

"If the face changes due to cosmetic procedures or growth, Face Pass may not be able to verify identity. To address this issue, we will operate a separate booth on-site. If identity can be verified through documents or identification, there will also be a supplementary on-site system for re-registering the face. However, to prevent the misuse of face re-registration, such as for fraudulent transfers, we aim to limit the number of re-registrations."

Are there concerns about the theft of face information registered in Face Pass?

"Many people misunderstand that they are comparing registered face photos to the actual faces due to the term 'Face Pass.' We do not store photos. Instead, we analyze patterns of the face such as angle changes and characteristics, transforming that information into data for storage. The corresponding databases are managed separately by Toss, with minimal personnel having access to ensure against hacking, leaks, or theft.

To this end, Toss has undergone a pre-appropriateness review process with the Personal Information Commission. They are also devising safe handling measures under the Personal Information Protection Act. They are striving to thoroughly manage personal data, including acquiring various overseas certifications relating to personal data protection. "We will do our best to ensure that the concerns of users never come to pass."

Do you plan to apply Face Pass to future new business or related product development?

"If the TWS fan meeting goes well, I expect requests to come from industries outside of the entertainment sector, such as sports viewing or leisure industries. Additionally, with the merger of Yanolja and Interpark Triples into Nol Universe, the scope of business has broadened. We also plan to extend Face Pass to airline and accommodation businesses. Though it is not yet finalized, we are considering whether to connect Face Pass to the merchandise and MD (merchandising) sold at the fan meeting site."

It seems burdensome that the first task presented in the name of Nol Universe is 'Face Pass.'

"I believe that the synergy between Yanolja's abundant technology and know-how and Interpark Triples' ticketing power will result in a positive outcome (laughs). All three companies are fully prepared, and we are keen to show the audience and fans that we are addressing their concerns for the first time at the TWS fan meeting. We will work hard to ensure that Face Pass is well established in the industry.