Initial DID Association

The Initial DID Association is a South Korean digital identity consortium launched in 2019, focused on building a Self-Sovereign Identity network centered around major financial institutions and telecommunications companies. The consortium is led by SK Telecom and includes other major telecommunications providers like KT and LG Uplus, along with financial institutions such as KEB Hana Bank, Woori Bank, and Koscom.

The consortium's technical implementation is built around their mobile electronic credential service application called Initial, which launched in April 2020. The platform leverages blockchain technology to enable secure digital identity verification and credential management. Notable implementations include integration with Samsung Electronics through the Galaxy A Quantum smartphone, which incorporates quantum random number generation for enhanced security of Initial cryptographic keys. The system supports various credentials including mobile phone insurance documentation, university degree certificates, and bank customer grade certificates.

Key technical features include:

• SDK availability for credential issuers and verifiers
• Integration with quantum random number generation for enhanced security
• Support for multiple credential types through their Initial mobile app
• Cross-institutional credential verification capabilities

The consortium represents one of four major DID initiatives in South Korea, operating alongside the DID Alliance, MyID Alliance, and MyKey Alliance. While it was not the first to launch, it has achieved notable adoption through its telecommunications industry backing and integration with major device manufacturers.