The National Forensic Service (國立科學搜査硏究院, National Forensic Service, abbreviated: 국과수, NFS) is an affiliated agency of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety of the Republic of Korea that oversees scientific investigation, research, analysis, appraisal, and education and training in forensic medici
Founded 1955Last edited Oct 15, 2026, 2:51 PM
Details
Founded
1955
Established
August 13, 2010
Legal basis
Article 2(4) of the "Organization of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and Its Affiliated Agencies"
The National Forensic Service (國立科學搜査硏究院, National Forensic Service, abbreviated: 국과수, NFS) is an affiliated agency of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety of the Republic of Korea that oversees scientific investigation, research, analysis, appraisal, and education and training in forensic medicine, forensic science, and forensic engineering related to criminal investigation.1 It was launched on March 25, 1955, as the National Scientific Investigation Institute, an affiliated agency of the Ministry of Home Affairs, and was elevated to the National Forensic Service on August 13, 2010. The main headquarters is currently located at 10 Ipchun-ro, Wonju-si, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province. The director is appointed as a term-limited public official belonging to the Senior Executive Service, grade "ga."2
Legal Basis and Areas of Responsibility
Legal Basis
Article 2(4) of the "Organization of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and Its Affiliated Agencies"3
Areas of Responsibility
Scientific investigation, research, analysis, appraisal, and education and training in forensic medicine, forensic chemistry, and engineering fields related to criminal investigation
History
March 25, 1955: Established as the National Scientific Investigation Institute under the Ministry of Home Affairs
August 25, 1963: Office relocated to Cheongun-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
February 20, 1977: Office relocated to Migeun-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul
September 1, 1986: Moved into a newly built facility in Sinwol-dong, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul
July 1, 1987: Began fingerprint and individual identification work
March 16, 1993: Southern branch opened (Dongsam-dong, Yeongdo-gu, Busan)
June 27, 1997: Western branch opened (Seosam-myeon, Jangseong-gun, South Jeolla Province)
January 1, 1999:
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November 2, 2018: Central Forensic Medicine Center opened
July 3, 2019: Jeju Branch Office opened (Yeongpyeong-dong, Jeju City, Jeju Province)
February 25, 2020: Forensic Medicine Division established
April 13, 2020: Forensic Medicine Division Forensic Science Education Center and Regional Institute Genetic Analysis Division established
July 21, 2021: Designated as a specialized education and training institution
September 2, 2021: Expanded scope of KOLAS international accredited testing institution recognition (digital forensics)
Footnotes
Footnotes
This is a separate agency from the Forensic Science Management Bureau of the Korean National Police Agency. ↩
Article 37(1) of the Enforcement Rules of the Organization of the Ministry of Government Administration and Home Affairs and Its Affiliated Agencies ↩
To support the affairs administered by the Minister of the Interior and Safety, under Article 4(1) of the "Act on the Establishment and Operation of Executive Agencies," Article 2(1) of its Enforcement Decree, and Appendix 1, the National Forensic Service, the National Information Resources Service, and the National Disaster Safety Research Institute are established as executive agencies under the Minister of the Interior and Safety. ↩
The National Forensic Service (國立科學搜査硏究院, National Forensic Service, abbreviated: 국과수, NFS) is an affiliated agency of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety of the Republic of Korea that oversees scientific investigation, research, analysis, appraisal, and education and training in forensic medicine, forensic science, and forensic engineering related to criminal investigation.1 It was launched on March 25, 1955, as the National Scientific Investigation Institute, an affiliated agency of the Ministry of Home Affairs, and was elevated to the National Forensic Service on August 13, 2010. The main headquarters is currently located at 10 Ipchun-ro, Wonju-si, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province. The director is appointed as a term-limited public official belonging to the Senior Executive Service, grade "ga."2
Legal Basis and Areas of Responsibility
Legal Basis
Article 2(4) of the "Organization of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and Its Affiliated Agencies"3
Areas of Responsibility
Scientific investigation, research, analysis, appraisal, and education and training in forensic medicine, forensic chemistry, and engineering fields related to criminal investigation
History
March 25, 1955: Established as the National Scientific Investigation Institute under the Ministry of Home Affairs
August 25, 1963: Office relocated to Cheongun-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
February 20, 1977: Office relocated to Migeun-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul
September 1, 1986: Moved into a newly built facility in Sinwol-dong, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul
July 1, 1987: Began fingerprint and individual identification work
March 16, 1993: Southern branch opened (Dongsam-dong, Yeongdo-gu, Busan)
June 27, 1997: Western branch opened (Seosam-myeon, Jangseong-gun, South Jeolla Province)
January 1, 1999: Began video measurement and CCTV analysis appraisal work
July 1, 2000: Established the Fire Expertise Research Office and began fire appraisal work
September 5, 2000: Central branch opened (Hwaam-dong, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon)
November 22, 2005: Eastern branch opened (Munmak-eup, Wonju-si, Gangwon Province)
November 2, 2018: Central Forensic Medicine Center opened
July 3, 2019: Jeju Branch Office opened (Yeongpyeong-dong, Jeju City, Jeju Province)
February 25, 2020: Forensic Medicine Division established
April 13, 2020: Forensic Medicine Division Forensic Science Education Center and Regional Institute Genetic Analysis Division established
July 21, 2021: Designated as a specialized education and training institution
September 2, 2021: Expanded scope of KOLAS international accredited testing institution recognition (digital forensics)
Footnotes
Footnotes
This is a separate agency from the Forensic Science Management Bureau of the Korean National Police Agency. ↩
Article 37(1) of the Enforcement Rules of the Organization of the Ministry of Government Administration and Home Affairs and Its Affiliated Agencies ↩
To support the affairs administered by the Minister of the Interior and Safety, under Article 4(1) of the "Act on the Establishment and Operation of Executive Agencies," Article 2(1) of its Enforcement Decree, and Appendix 1, the National Forensic Service, the National Information Resources Service, and the National Disaster Safety Research Institute are established as executive agencies under the Minister of the Interior and Safety. ↩