Responding to Advanced and Large-Scale Crimes and Developing High-Quality Forensic Techniques
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The National Forensic Service (NFS) is strengthening the social safety net by extending the alcohol detection time using alcohol metabolites by nine times and developing a new analysis method for novel drugs.
On the 24th, the NFS announced that it has developed a new forensic technique that can dramatically extend the alcohol detection time using alcohol metabolites from the existing 8 hours to up to 72 hours. This is expected to solve intelligent drunk driving crimes, prove the state of alcohol-induced incapacitation in sexual crime victims, and accurately estimate the cause of death by determining the amount of alcohol consumed and alcohol addiction in deceased persons.
To enhance the response to drug offenders, a new drug analysis method capable of simultaneously analyzing "74 types of synthetic cannabinoids" was also developed. This new drug analysis method can analyze novel drugs such as synthetic cannabinoids, which were impossible to analyze with existing methods, and is expected to greatly contribute to eliminating blind spots in drug crime investigations.
The NFS plans to continuously develop this Korean-style forensic system through exchanges and cooperation with international forensic institutions and judicial agencies. Previously, it has conducted official development assistance projects in Asian regions such as Thailand, Mongolia, Vietnam, China, and Sri Lanka, as well as Central American regions including El Salvador and Honduras, transferring the Korean-style forensic system.
Meanwhile, the NFS performs about 600,000 forensic tasks annually. Last year, it conducted 200,000 genetic analyses, 64,000 analyses of drugs and psychotropic substances, 30,000 blood alcohol concentration analyses, and 9,000 autopsies and medical examinations, totaling approximately 580,000 forensic tasks.
In particular, while promoting high-quality forensic work, the NFS has also carried out tasks to realize social value through continuous collaboration with related organizations, such as drug testing for prohibited substances in civil servant recruitment exams, drug analysis for military service evasion, development of fingerprint replication prevention technology for resident registration cards, and storage of DNA information of victims and bereaved families related to past incidents.
Regarding drug testing for prohibited substances in civil servant recruitment exams, 7,195 tests were conducted over six years. Through drug analysis for military service evasion, the NFS reduced outsourcing costs abroad and significantly shortened the testing time to within seven days compared to the period required for overseas outsourced tests.
Park Nam-gyu, Director of the National Forensic Service, said at the 66th anniversary founding ceremony held via non-face-to-face video conference, "The reason the NFS has grown into a unique forensic institution is because of the warm support and encouragement from the public," adding, "We will not be satisfied with the present and will do our best in preparation and research for the future."
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