[Exclusive] National Forensic Service to Establish 'Narcotics Response Division'

Yoon Suk-yeol Government's 'War on Drugs' Initiative
Reflecting Absolute Shortage of Narcotics Personnel at National Forensic Service
Focusing on New Drug Detection and Drug Distribution Monitoring

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] The National Forensic Service (NFS) is planning to establish a new Drug Response Division. This is a follow-up measure to the "War on Drugs" initiative driven by the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, as the need for precise analysis of drug components and expansion of personnel monitoring drug distribution has increased amid the rising influx of new synthetic drugs.

According to a comprehensive report from Asia Economy on the 7th, the NFS reported in the "2023 Work Promotion Requirements" of the "Drug Control Measures Council" chaired by Visit Kyoo, Director of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, at the end of last month, that "cooperation from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the Ministry of Economy and Finance is necessary to establish a Drug Response Division."

According to the materials reported by the NFS at the meeting, the number of drug-related requests received by the NFS last year was 89,033, a 16% increase compared to the previous year. Among the positive cases, the detection rate of new synthetic drugs reached 27%. While both drug requests and detections of new synthetic drugs increased, personnel only increased by one researcher and three research assistants during this period.

In response, the NFS reported that "due to an absolute shortage of personnel, it is expected to be difficult to perform roles in responding to new synthetic drugs and in national drug control measures," and explained the establishment of the Drug Response Division as a necessary task for this year's work promotion. The establishment of the NFS Drug Response Division is expected to be launched within the year after inter-ministerial working-level meetings.

The newly established organization is expected to take on roles such as exploring new synthetic drugs and monitoring drug distribution. This is in consideration of the acceleration of misuse and domestic influx of new synthetic drugs, and the increase in drug distribution through small networks in the form of overseas direct purchases rather than large organizations.

A senior government official attending the meeting said, "Budget increases for monitoring equipment and detection devices, including the expansion of personnel and organizations for drug response, were necessary, but many of the budget increases accepted at the standing committee level last year were not reflected in the plenary session," adding, "We will actively reflect related budgets through inter-ministerial consultations."

Meanwhile, in drug crimes, the substance found at the scene must be confirmed as a drug component to apply charges. The police usually request the NFS to analyze drugs found in biological samples such as urine and hair, as well as seized items. After a positive reaction in a simple reagent test, a precise analysis is requested from the NFS.

However, due to a shortage of NFS personnel, delays in processing forensic results have occurred repeatedly.

This issue was also pointed out as a problem during last year's national audit by the opposition party, the Democratic Party of Korea. According to data submitted by the NFS to Democratic Party lawmaker Choi Ki-sang of the National Assembly's Administrative Safety Committee, the number of annual drug forensic requests increased more than threefold from 5,742 cases in 2015 to 17,614 cases in 2021. However, during the same period, the number of NFS personnel for drug analysis increased by only three, from 13 to 16. Currently, 16 NFS personnel are responsible for an average of 4,785 forensic analyses per person annually.