Police Agency Awards Best Forensic Investigators and Scientific Investigation Subjects

Professor Hong Seong-wook of Soonchunhyang University and 3 Others Selected
Kim Jin-young, Seoul Cheong Health Officer, Named Best Forensic Investigator

Police Agency building.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] On the morning of the 18th, the National Police Agency held the '17th Scientific Investigation Awards' and the '2021 Best Coroner Investigator' ceremony at the police headquarters in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul.

Since 2005, the police have been selecting individuals or organizations with significant contributions to the advancement of scientific investigation in three fields: forensic science, forensic medicine, and police scientific investigation, awarding the 'Scientific Investigation Award.' This year, the honors went to Professor Hong Seong-wook of Soonchunhyang University Graduate School of Forensic Science, the Forensic Medicine Department of the Seoul Institute of Scientific Investigation, and Superintendent Park Jung-gi of the Gyeongnam Police Agency. Additionally, the 'Best Coroner Investigator,' selected for the first time this year, was awarded to Coroner Investigator Kim Jin-young of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency.

Professor Hong Seong-wook, the awardee in the forensic science field, was recognized for introducing the concept of micro-evidence to the Korean police for the first time in 2006 and for publishing numerous SCI-certified papers related to detection and analysis, including latent fingerprint development techniques such as 'Enhancement of Latent Fingerprints on Food Surfaces,' thereby strengthening the academic foundation of Korean scientific investigation.

The Forensic Medicine Department of the Seoul Institute of Scientific Investigation, recipient of the scientific investigation award in the forensic medicine field, has performed 18,823 autopsies and 2,918 holiday autopsies from 2014 to 2020 since its reorganization into the Seoul Institute of Scientific Investigation in November 2013. They also established a 24-hour standby team system for rapid deployment to crime scenes and contributed significantly to solving cases by promptly analyzing evidence in major incidents such as child abuse and dismemberment murders.

Superintendent Park Jung-gi, the awardee in the police scientific investigation field, has contributed to apprehending criminals through on-site investigations of major cases such as dismemberment murders over approximately 17 years in the scientific investigation field. In the past two years, he has helped resolve 68 cases of crimes affecting public livelihood, including telephone financial fraud, through fingerprint analysis. He was also recognized for his research in various areas such as analysis of impact patterns from similar firearms, changes in combustion traces caused by fire, and changes in firearm residue conditions, as well as for producing a latent fingerprint development guidebook and hosting scientific investigation talk concerts, earning a special promotion from superintendent to chief superintendent.

Coroner Investigator Kim Jin-young, recipient of the Best Coroner Investigator award, has served as a coroner investigator since 2012. In February 2019, she identified the cause of death in a suspected homicide case involving a Korean in Indonesia and contributed to solving major cases by discovering signs of homicide in seven unclear death cases. She has also published numerous papers related to coroner duties, including 'A Unique Suicide Case by Combined Inhalation of Nitrous Oxide and Carbon Monoxide,' and was specially promoted in recognition of her research on estimating time of death through quantitative analysis of cardiac markers.

Kim Chang-ryong, Commissioner of the National Police Agency, praised, "Scientific investigation is an extreme profession that requires finding evidence at horrific crime scenes," and expressed gratitude to the scientific investigators who quietly fulfill their duties by uncovering the truth of cases through scientific analysis despite difficult working conditions.

Meanwhile, following the awards ceremony, an unveiling ceremony was held to commemorate the acquisition of international accreditation from the Korea Laboratory Accreditation Scheme (KOLAS) in the fields of facial recognition analysis and video analysis. The National Police Agency obtained international accreditation as a testing institution from KOLAS in fingerprint analysis in 2010, digital forensics in 2020, and most recently on the 27th of last month in facial recognition analysis and video analysis. As a result, the procedures and analysis methods for facial recognition and video analysis conducted by the police have been recognized for their expertise and objectivity not only domestically but also internationally, gaining credibility in investigative agencies and courts in 104 countries worldwide.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.