[MZ Police Officer] The 'Lighthouse' Chasing Criminal Traces 24/7... Forensic Science Team Work Diary

Dispatch to Accident, Fire, and Fare Evasion Scenes
Providing Clues to Solve Cases

Editor's NoteGeneration Z is coming. It is an era where new employees in their 20s and 30s decide the future of organizational culture. The police are no exception. The police have various departments such as criminal investigation, investigation, security, intelligence, traffic, administration, public relations, audit, and women & youth. The working environments differ across metropolitan police agencies, police stations, riot police units, and district police stations, and the tasks vary greatly by region. From the perspective of the youngest police officers, we introduce their departments and hear vivid stories about their thoughts on work and life.

On the 3rd, we visited the Gangseo Police Station in Seoul. On one side of the laboratory set up inside the police station, Police Officer Lee Haneul (31) began sweeping a soju bottle with a brush in hand. The brush slid over the glass surface, leaving fine powder behind. After finishing the task, Officer Lee illuminated the soju bottle with a bluish light source and closely examined its surface. The soju bottle on the lab table was evidence collected from a restaurant where a report of dine-and-dash was filed. Although no particular features were visible to the naked eye, fingerprints could be found using forensic techniques. Finding invisible evidence and getting closer to the truth of the case is why Officer Lee is deeply attracted to forensic investigation.

With the advancement of modern technology, criminal methods have become more sophisticated, increasing the importance of forensic investigation. The ability to secure evidence at the scene directly affects investigative outcomes. Accordingly, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency operates a total of nine metropolitan forensic investigation teams across the city, grouping three police stations per jurisdiction. Among them, the Metropolitan Forensic Investigation Team 8 is active in the Gangseo, Guro, and Yangcheon districts. This area is characterized by a higher elderly population compared to others, resulting in many unattended death cases. This brings considerable pressure. We spoke with Officer Lee, a forensic investigation field examiner who works hard chasing evidence left at the scene.

On the 3rd, Police Officer Lee Haneul conducted fingerprint analysis in the laboratory inside the Metropolitan Scientific Investigation Team building of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul. Photo by Lee Ji-eun.

Captivated by Fingerprint Analysis Practice... Preparing for Entry by Building Expertise

Officer Lee, who was selected through a special recruitment in 2021, was assigned to the Metropolitan Forensic Investigation Team 8 from February of the following year after eight months of training. Although this is his third year in field examination duties, his expertise is second to none. This is because he has solidly built theoretical knowledge of forensic techniques while pursuing a master's degree in forensic science at graduate school.

Officer Lee explained that a practical class he took during university led him to the path of a forensic investigator. He recalled, "During a lecture, a teaching assistant who graduated from a forensic science graduate program demonstrated fingerprint analysis in front of the students. When the reagent was sprayed, previously invisible fingerprints appeared, and at that moment, I was completely captivated by the charm of forensic science."

He then took out a piece of paper from one side of the lab to explain how fingerprints become visible. After pouring reagent onto the paper with handprints, he placed a heated iron on top. As the heat treatment began, blue-tinged fingerprints appeared on the paper. These collected fingerprints are photographed and then entered into the fingerprint analysis system. If the fingerprint is intact, identity verification is straightforward, but partial or unclear fingerprints pose recognition challenges.

On the 3rd, Police Officer Ha Neul Yi is being interviewed by Asia Economy at the Metropolitan Scientific Investigation Team building of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul. Photo by Ji-eun Lee.

However, Officer Lee's work does not end with simply analyzing evidence. From dispatching to the scene to report writing, numerous tasks must be completed to resolve a single case. Moreover, since the team operates on a three-shift system, he spends 24 hours straight at work on duty days.

Officer Lee explained, "I start work at 8 a.m., clean the work vehicle, and then head to Gangseo Police Station. I review and submit for approval the field examination reports written during the previous shift, then check the forensic results received from the police headquarters." Responding immediately to incidents and accidents reported during work is also part of his duties.

Demanding Fire and Unattended Death Scenes... Meticulous Even with Small Evidence

The intensity of work at the scene is also considerable. Officer Lee responds to about five cases daily on average, including dine-and-dash, theft, and unattended deaths. High concentration is required at the scene because even the smallest piece of evidence can become the key to the case later.

Among these, Officer Lee cited unattended death and fire scenes as the most challenging. He said, "There were times when I visited unattended death scenes up to 10 times in 24 hours. Especially when infant unattended deaths occurred, it was emotionally difficult." He added, "Fire scenes are challenging because you have to find the origin of the fire by examining the burn patterns and which parts of objects were primarily burned."

Police Officer Ha Neul Seo, with less than 3 days of service, is using a fingerprint identification system at the Metropolitan Scientific Investigation Team building of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency. Photo by Lee Ji-eun.

Amid the tough work, rewarding moments unexpectedly arise. These are when decisive evidence for solving cases is discovered. Officer Lee shared, "There was a drug case where a suspect was presumed, but lack of physical evidence made it difficult. Successfully extracting DNA from the forensic material greatly helped solve the case."

Finding the perpetrator's trace in unexpected forensic materials also doubles the satisfaction. Officer Lee said, "I once analyzed trash collected from a crime scene and found DNA of a suspect already arrested for another case. I always try not to overlook anything that might seem unlikely to yield DNA and analyze it."

Exercise and Career Lectures... Overcoming Stress with Positive Energy

Of course, Officer Lee also faces difficult times. Due to the nature of forensic investigation, which frequently deals with traumatic cases such as unattended deaths, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is always a concern. Whenever this happens, he relieves stress through exercise and travel. Officer Lee explained, "I used to do health training and recently started Pilates. I aim to build a healthy body and mind by strengthening my physical fitness. I also often travel domestically to refresh my mind and return to work with a renewed spirit."

The pure enthusiasm he receives from children is also a great motivator. Officer Lee gives career experience lectures at national and public elementary, middle, and high schools on his days off. He said, "Young people have considerable curiosity and interest in forensic science. Every time I hear them say it's cool, I feel motivated to do better."

On the 3rd, Police Officer Ha Neul held a pose during an interview at the Metropolitan Scientific Investigation Team building of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency. Photo by Lee Ji-eun.

Colleagues and seniors who work alongside him are also like a strong support team. Officer Lee said, "When there were many cases and I was physically exhausted, the team leader would share interesting stories and forensic know-how. We also discuss how to approach specific cases at the scene together."

Finally, when asked to describe a forensic investigator in one word, Officer Lee answered "lighthouse." A ship lost in the vast dark sea finds its way by the light of a lighthouse. Forensic investigation is the same. The evidence found by field examiners provides a ray of answers to cases full of questions. Officer Lee concluded the interview by saying, "A lighthouse silently shines its light from behind. The metropolitan forensic investigation team is also a department that helps cases approach the substantial truth."