By Lee Kyung-min

The government's new number-based identification system for online users, I-PIN, has been hacked and more than 750,000 numbers were created by the hackers, officials said Thursday.

No related financial damage was reported as yet, and the recently issued numbers were all subsequently deleted, they said.

The Internet Personal Identification Numbers (I-PIN) is an alternative identification system for Internet users that the government is pushing to replace a 13-digit resident registration number. I-PINs are used for financial transactions and online website registration verification.

According to the Ministry of Government Administration and Home Affairs, from Feb. 28 to March 2, the hackers with Chinese software used 2,000 local servers to issue the 750,000 numbers.

The ministry launched an investigation after it detected a spike in the issuance of these numbers.

Out of the total, some 170,000 were used in membership registration or changing personal information on three gambling sites, it said.

The operators of the three sites were ordered to delete members registered during the period, and suspend the use of those who modified their personal information.

The ministry said it asked the National Police Agency for further investigation.

The government said it plans to conduct a broad inspection over the security and safety on the I-PIN system use it has touted as a way to stave off massive data theft.

To receive an I-PIN number, Internet users must first verify their identities through public key certificates, credit card numbers, mobile-phone accounts or personally visiting one of the related organizations and submitting their resident registration card or driver's license.