‘A Guide on How To Detect Counterfeit Banknotes’ app allows everyone to easily check for counterfeit banknotes information on their smartphones. Jointly developed by the Bank of Korea and the National Forensic Service, it aims to prevent the circulation of counterfeit banknotes and mitigate related damage. [Updated on September 2025, Released on December 2016]
■ Menu: How to Check your Banknotes, Punishment for Counterfeit, Report a Counterfeit, Videos, FAQ, Setting
▶ How to Check your Banknotes
- Introducing the most effective verification method, ‘Check, Tilt, and Feel,’ applicable to all banknotes.
- Intuitive screens and detailed explanations of the anti-counterfeiting devices applied to the front and back of each denomications allow for a quick overview.
- Examples of representative counterfeit Korea Won banknotes discovered in the past are provided.
▶ Punishment for Counterfeit
- Clarifies the penalties for counterfeiting currency, acquisition of counterfeited currency, circulation of currency known to be counterfeited and manufacture of articles similar to currency as specified in the Criminal Act.
▶ Report a Counterfeit
- Explains appropriate actions when counterfeit banknotes are received from someone and when they are found in your possession, based on whether the suspect can be identified after reporting to the police.
▶ Videos and FAQs
- Provides links to easily view promotional videos from the Bank of Korea.
- Provides a compilation of frequently asked questions for immediate reference and response in a variety of situations.
▶ Setting
- Select Korean/English language
- Large and bold text for seniors (not available in English)
- User-selected for financial institution employees and police officers who are more likely to detect counterfeit money in the course of their work (not available in English)
Here's the English translation:
▷ Changes to Counterfeit Bill Detection Guidelines
Added convenient counterfeit detection methods
Added at-a-glance summary table by denomination
Visualization of security feature names
▷ Content Additions
Representative counterfeit bill cases
FAQ and related videos (YouTube) on counterfeit bill detection
Content for financial institution and police users
▷ User Experience Improvements
Image enlargement when viewing security feature details
Added font size and user settings menu
Added search functionality within FAQ and related videos