National Forensic Service. (Image from the company webpage)
SEOUL, June 26 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s advanced forensic science capabilities have significantly strengthened Mongolia’s criminal investigation system, culminating in the resolution of a years-old murder case and a sweeping upgrade of the nation’s forensic institutions.
The National Forensic Service (NFS) of South Korea announced on Tuesday that it had successfully completed a multiyear forensic capacity-building project in Mongolia, conducted in partnership with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).
The project, which began in 2020 under South Korea’s official development assistance (ODA) program, will be formally wrapped up at a report forum in Mongolia on June 26.
Focusing on three key areas—DNA analysis, drug testing, and digital forensics—the initiative yielded dramatic results. Mongolia’s DNA testing throughput increased sevenfold, while processing times were slashed from 15 days to just five.
Notably, the upgraded forensic capabilities played a crucial role in resolving the long-unsolved 2018 murder of a girl in Khövsgöl Province.
Police forensic officers collecting fingerprints (Photo courtesy of the Korean National Police Agency)
Buoyed by these outcomes, the Mongolian government elevated its National Forensic Institute, originally founded in 1944, to the status of a full-fledged National Forensic Agency—the first such institutional upgrade in 80 years.
A joint Korea-Mongolia workshop held alongside the final report session will highlight achievements across four fields: digital analysis, genetics, narcotics testing (all under grant aid), and forensic medicine (a paid assistance project).
Beyond Mongolia, South Korea’s NFS has supported forensic science development in countries such as Sri Lanka, Bolivia, Uzbekistan, and Indonesia.
“We’ve helped advance Mongolia’s legal and forensic system through this ODA project, reaffirming global recognition of Korea’s forensic science,” said NFS President Lee Bong-woo. “We will continue to expand cooperation across forensic and medical science fields, building K-forensics into a truly global institution.”
Korean Forensic Expertise Boosts Mongolia’s Criminal Investigations (Image supported by ChatGPT)
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
