Two Forensic Investigators from Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Obtain Korea's First International Association for Identification 'Analyst' Certification

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency announced on the 13th that two forensic investigators passed the certification exam for the International Association for Identification (IAI) Crime Scene Analyst qualification in the United States this year. This is the first time that police forensic investigators have obtained the analyst qualification.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The IAI was voluntarily established in 1915 by police officers in the field of crime scene investigation in the United States and is now recognized worldwide as an authoritative organization in the field of forensic science. The IAI certification certifies individuals with professional qualifications in eight areas, including crime scene investigation, bloodstain pattern analysis, and latent fingerprint development, and is designed to enhance the professional expertise of investigators. The certification is divided into Investigator, Analyst, and Senior Analyst levels according to rank.

Since 2021, the Seoul Police Agency has been taking the certification exam, and 14 people have obtained the Investigator qualification so far. This year, especially, Lieutenant Lee Ji-yeon and Sergeant Choi Byung-ha, who took the second-level Analyst qualification, passed the exam and obtained the Analyst qualification. To receive the Analyst qualification, one must have more than three years of forensic investigation experience, complete 96 hours of IAI-led training within the last five years, and score at least 75 points on the 300-question IAI-administered exam. Sergeant Choi said, "I felt pressured as the first person in Korea to take the Analyst qualification exam, but I am happy to have passed and will continue to work hard for the advancement of forensic science."

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