While previous competitions have focused on evaluating fingerprint recognition software, this event will be the first to pit fingerprint examiners from law enforcement agencies worldwide against each other in a test of skill and expertise. (Image courtesy of Pixabay/CCL)
SEOUL, Oct. 15 (Korea Bizwire) – The National Police Agency of South Korea announced on October 15 that it will host the inaugural International Fingerprint Examination Competition on November 28, marking a global first for the forensic science community.
While previous competitions have focused on evaluating fingerprint recognition software, this event will be the first to pit fingerprint examiners from law enforcement agencies worldwide against each other in a test of skill and expertise.
The competition will be conducted online, allowing for simultaneous participation from international contestants. Registration is open from today until November 14 through QR codes displayed on posters at the National Police Agency and the Korean Crime Scene Investigation (KCSI) websites.
Awards will be given separately to domestic and international participants, with medals, prizes, and certificates of recognition from the Commissioner General of the Korean National Police Agency presented based on performance.
Despite advancements in artificial intelligence and big data, the role of skilled fingerprint examiners remains crucial in forensic science. South Korean courts continue to rely on the expertise of these professionals and their adherence to standard procedures as a basis for admissible evidence.
The National Police Agency has been conducting fingerprint examinations since November 1948, when it established a fingerprint unit within the Public Safety Bureau of the Ministry of Home Affairs. Today, it performs approximately 20,000 examinations annually.
In 1990, the agency introduced an automated fingerprint identification system, enabling rapid comparisons between crime scene prints and large databases. Recent innovations include the integration of AI technology and the development of techniques to separate overlapping fingerprints, with commercialization on the horizon.
The fingerprint examination division of the National Police Agency received accreditation as an internationally recognized testing laboratory from the Korea Laboratory Accreditation Scheme (KOLAS) in 2010. Last year, it became the first and only institution in South Korea to be recognized as an internationally accredited proficiency testing provider. Its inaugural proficiency test this year attracted 214 participants from around the world.
Park Woo-hyun, a scientific investigation deliberation officer at the National Police Agency, stated, “Through this competition, we aim to showcase South Korea’s world-class police fingerprint examination capabilities and strengthen international networks in the field of fingerprint analysis.”
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
