Police to Establish Advanced Investigation and Analysis Research Facility to Tackle Future Crimes

Analysis of Crime Methods Including Dark Web, Virtual Assets, and Sexual Exploitation Materials
Research on Investigation Techniques
Planned Construction within Yongsan-gu Railroad Maintenance Depot Site
Starting in Second Half of This Year, Completion in 2025

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Jo] The police are set to establish a complex facility that analyzes new and emerging crimes exploiting advanced technology and researches investigative techniques to respond to them.

On the 21st, the National Police Agency announced that it will commence year-round construction of a state-of-the-art multifunctional complex tentatively named the 'National Advanced Security Center' on the site of the railway maintenance depot in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. The center will be built with two basement floors and nine above-ground floors, covering a total area of 14,305㎡, with a total project cost of 40.1 billion KRW. The completion is targeted for November 2025. The police plan to conduct detailed design work for the new center in March and break ground in November this year.

The police flag of the Seoul Seodaemun-gu Police Agency is fluttering in the wind. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

The center will house numerous facilities that consolidate cyber and forensic investigation capabilities. Representative facilities include the ▲Cyber Investigation Evidence Analysis Room ▲Sexual Exploitation Material Analysis Room ▲Cyber Threat Information Analysis Room ▲Digital Evidence Analysis Room ▲Field Analysis Support Room. Here, investigative and analytical technologies will be developed to analyze and respond to new types of cybercrimes such as the dark web, child sexual exploitation materials, and malicious codes.

Facilities for international cooperation and private sector collaboration will also be established. This measure considers the current situation where crimes exploiting advanced technology occur across borders and both online and offline. The police plan to set up a Cyber International Cooperation Office within the center to exchange information on cybercrimes with foreign countries and build a cooperative network. Additionally, a Private Collaboration Office staffed with civilians will be established to conduct testing of digital forensic development equipment and tool verification.