NHN Payco announces that it is the first domestic private certification body to obtain the 'Electronic Signature Certification Body' certification from the Ministry of Science and ICT./Courtesy of NHN

NHN will withdraw from the private electronic signature service 'Payco Certificate,' which it has operated for about 5 years. New issuance and use of the certificate will be suspended starting at 4 p.m. on July 17.

According to NHN on the 13th, recent individual notices with this information were provided to customers using the certificate. This decision to end the certificate service was made to concentrate capabilities on businesses where core competitiveness can be demonstrated, as part of strengthening the focus strategy following the T-MEP incident.

'Payco Certificate' quickly established itself in the private certificate market after its launch in September 2020, obtaining certifications as an electronic signature certification service provider, a unified certification institution for my data, and a pilot project for public sector electronic signatures. It was used as an identity certification method in major public institution services such as the National Tax Service's HomeTax, Government24, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency COOV, National Pension Service, and National Health Insurance Service, and it was linked to the 'Payco Electronic Document Wallet' service, enabling its use for issuing various electronic certificates, including resident registration certificates.

However, recently the expansion of the user base has been limited, and as NHN internally adjusts its business structure to focus its capabilities on strategic businesses such as coupons, B2B, campus, and simple payment, the certificate service is being phased out.

After the termination of the Payco Certificate, simple authentication and electronic signatures through that service will not be possible. NHN is advising users to obtain alternative authentication methods such as joint certificates, financial certificates, and third-party simple certificates in advance.

An NHN official noted, "This is a measure to strengthen competitiveness by focusing capabilities on core services where strengths can be exerted, in line with Payco's focus strategy," adding, "We plan to actively seek improvements in user satisfaction and revenue enhancement through the proactive expansion of strategic businesses in the future."