Signatures on paper have almost disappeared in shops in Seoul, with digital signatures taking their place. Digital signing is convenient and quick. But one may have noticed a difference between the two: In the conventional paper format, the signer and sales clerk apparently take the procedure more seriously than when its digital. 

Oftentimes I have a sales clerk who hits the “ok” button on his or her cash register in the middle of my putting my signature on the pad, which basically terminates the signature mode and saves the signature half-done.

As with any Korean name, my signature is not particularly long or complex. Waiting for my receipt, I start to wonder what this signature requirement is all about. Well, this could still constitute my signature because at least part of it has been read into the shop’s and affiliated bank’s digital system.

The other day, waiting for my turn in line to order coffee at a downtown coffee shop, I saw a young gentleman in front of me strike a line on the signing pad with his finger. It was obvious that it was not the signature written on the back of his card, but no questions were asked.

A more bizarre experience came a couple days ago at a grocery store. While I was fumbling for my cell phone to get an incoming call, the sales clerk reached over the counter and put a slash on the pad with her finger. From the look on her face, I realized that I was supposed to thank her for the help. It is said that people sometimes write down short messages on the signing block instead of a signature, such as “thank you for this” and what not.

So, next time you are in a line, please look carefully at how these signatures are drawn and accepted at stores and shops. My bet is that in many instances signatures have become touches on the pad in any way purchasers like it, and most probably no second look will be given.

In fact, a sales representative is required to check whether a signature given by a purchaser matches the one on the back of the card.

In many other countries, this is what we encounter when we use credit cards. Checking the authenticity of a signature on the spot is almost impossible, but they do see if the signatures look similar at least. In light of this, many countries have adopted credit cards with embedded microchips, and require punching in PINs instead of signatures. Visitors from these countries may find the “loose” signature practice here somewhat interesting.

Belittling a signature does not seem to be caused by the fact that the transaction amount is small, because even in instances of transactions with relatively large amounts, a similar situation is also observed. Perhaps it is yet another example of Korea’s “ppali ppali” culture.

Or perhaps the credit card transactions have so deeply permeated that there is no time to follow all the attendant procedures down to a tee. Or, perhaps more plausibly, it is the banks issuing the credit cards, not the sellers and buyers, who assume the liability in the case of fraudulent usage.

Whatever the underlying reason, a known omission of a valid signature basically means that the transaction may not have been properly executed. If someone contests the validity of the signature on the receipt, the person will be released from the payment obligation.

If a signature is merely a scribbling process without actually confirming whether the authorized card holder is indeed across the counter, it may well be omitted altogether for certain types of credit card transactions. In fact, in some locations, signatures are not required when the transaction value is below a certain threshold.

A random signature practice as we see today could give people a wrong impression about the sanctity of the signature in an age where more digital signatures are applied in many places. Visitors from other countries not so familiar with this efficient practice may find it quite unique. 

By Lee Jae-min

Lee Jae-min is a professor of law at the School of Law, Hanyang University, in Seoul. Formerly he practiced law as an associate attorney with Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP. ― Ed.