National Police Agency Digital Forensic Center, First Domestic 'International Accreditation' in Digital Forensics Field Obtained

Certificate Award Ceremony and Plaque Unveiling
Recognition of Credibility Possible in Prosecutorial and Judicial Bodies of 104 Countries

Photo by National Police Agency.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] The Digital Forensic Center of the Cyber Safety Bureau of the National Police Agency has become the first internationally accredited testing institution in the field of digital forensics in Korea.

The Digital Forensic Center of the National Police Agency received recognition as Korea's first internationally accredited testing institution in the field of digital forensics from the Korea Laboratory Accreditation Scheme (KOLAS) under the Korea Agency for Technology and Standards, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. On the morning of the 8th, a certificate presentation and plaque ceremony were held at the police headquarters in Migeun-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul.

International accreditation of testing institutions is a system that internationally certifies the testing and inspection capabilities of an institution in a specific field by evaluating the organization, facilities, and personnel of the testing institution according to international standards (ISO/IEC). In Korea, this is overseen by KOLAS.

The Digital Forensic Center of the National Police Agency conducted over 56,000 digital evidence analyses last year and is the largest digital forensic institution in Korea with more than 200 professional analysts nationwide. In response to the growing importance of digital evidence in investigations and trials, the police have been pursuing international accreditation since last year to enhance internal and external credibility.

With this accreditation, the Digital Forensic Center of the National Police Agency has been recognized as world-class in terms of personnel expertise, facilities, systems, and analysis techniques across the entire digital forensic field. Additionally, under international agreements signed by the Korea Agency for Technology and Standards, it can now gain credibility in investigations and courts in 104 countries worldwide.

Min Gap-ryong, Commissioner of the National Police Agency, stated, "The Digital Forensic Center receiving international accreditation as a testing institution will greatly help gain public trust in the first year of police responsibility investigation," and emphasized, "Going forward, the police will acquire cutting-edge expertise, establish standardized work procedures, respect human rights, comply with due process, and uncover substantive truth."

Lee Seung-woo, President of the Korea Agency for Technology and Standards, said, "As demand for digital forensics increases and private institutions performing these tasks also grow, the field of forensic science is experiencing qualitative and quantitative growth and is directly related to the safety of citizens' lives, property, and security," adding, "We will actively support the expansion of KOLAS accredited institutions so that more domestic institutions with international testing capabilities and credibility can emerge."