@article{ART003245712},
author={Da Young Kim and Sang-Seob Lee and KIM YISUK and U Young Lee and Won-Joon Lee},
title={Survey and Recommendation of Forensic Anthropology Examination in South Korea from 2017 to 2021},
journal={Anatomy & Biological Anthropology},
issn={2671-5651},
year={2025},
volume={38},
number={3},
pages={195-208}
TY - JOUR
AU - Da Young Kim
AU - Sang-Seob Lee
AU - KIM YISUK
AU - U Young Lee
AU - Won-Joon Lee
TI - Survey and Recommendation of Forensic Anthropology Examination in South Korea from 2017 to 2021
JO - Anatomy & Biological Anthropology
PY - 2025
VL - 38
IS - 3
PB - 대한체질인류학회
SP - 195
EP - 208
SN - 2671-5651
AB - Forensic anthropological techniques are commonly applied in the identification of unidentified individuals in natural disasters such as earthquakes and wildfires, mass fatality incidents caused by fires, and the excavation of human remains resulting from war. Recently, the demand for identification has increased due to the rising number of lonely deaths, which are associated with the growing population of single-person households. To investigate the current status of forensic anthropological personal identification in South Korea, this study conducted a statistical analysis of forensic anthropological examination reports of unidentified bodies issued by the National Forensic Service (NFS) over a five-year period from 2017 to 2021. Among the 337 requested cases, sex was estimated in 305 cases (90.5%), age in 112 cases (33.2%), and height in 95 cases (28.2%), with all three biological profile elements estimated in 77 cases (22.8%). Based on these results, the study examined the types of skeletal remains used for identification, the duration of examinations, discovery site characteristics, requested examination categories, and the presence of personal effects. The findings provide an overview of the current forensic anthropological examination system in South Korea and highlight the need for categorizing examination requests and improving communication between investigative agencies and the NFS. These improvements are expected to enhance the reliability and accuracy of forensic anthropological examinations and support the development and utilization of a national database for unidentified persons in the futureBased on these results, the study examined the types of skeletal remains used for identification, the duration of examinations, discovery site characteristics, requested examination categories, and the presence of personal effects. The findings provide an overview of the current forensic anthropological examination system in South Korea and highlight the need for categorizing examination requests and improving communication between investigative agencies and the NFS. These improvements are expected to enhance the reliability and accuracy of forensic anthropological examinations and support the development and utilization of a national database for unidentified persons in the future.
KW - Forensic anthropology;Unidentified persons;Personal identification;Biological profile;South Korea
DO -
UR -
ER -
Da Young Kim, Sang-Seob Lee, KIM YISUK, U Young Lee and Won-Joon Lee. (2025). Survey and Recommendation of Forensic Anthropology Examination in South Korea from 2017 to 2021. Anatomy & Biological Anthropology, 38(3), 195-208.
Da Young Kim, Sang-Seob Lee, KIM YISUK, U Young Lee and Won-Joon Lee. 2025, "Survey and Recommendation of Forensic Anthropology Examination in South Korea from 2017 to 2021", Anatomy & Biological Anthropology, vol.38, no.3 pp.195-208.
Da Young Kim, Sang-Seob Lee, KIM YISUK, U Young Lee, Won-Joon Lee "Survey and Recommendation of Forensic Anthropology Examination in South Korea from 2017 to 2021" Anatomy & Biological Anthropology 38.3 pp.195-208 (2025) : 195.
Da Young Kim, Sang-Seob Lee, KIM YISUK, U Young Lee, Won-Joon Lee. Survey and Recommendation of Forensic Anthropology Examination in South Korea from 2017 to 2021. 2025; 38(3), 195-208.
Da Young Kim, Sang-Seob Lee, KIM YISUK, U Young Lee and Won-Joon Lee. "Survey and Recommendation of Forensic Anthropology Examination in South Korea from 2017 to 2021" Anatomy & Biological Anthropology 38, no.3 (2025) : 195-208.
Da Young Kim; Sang-Seob Lee; KIM YISUK; U Young Lee; Won-Joon Lee. Survey and Recommendation of Forensic Anthropology Examination in South Korea from 2017 to 2021. Anatomy & Biological Anthropology, 38(3), 195-208.
Da Young Kim; Sang-Seob Lee; KIM YISUK; U Young Lee; Won-Joon Lee. Survey and Recommendation of Forensic Anthropology Examination in South Korea from 2017 to 2021. Anatomy & Biological Anthropology. 2025; 38(3) 195-208.
Da Young Kim, Sang-Seob Lee, KIM YISUK, U Young Lee, Won-Joon Lee. Survey and Recommendation of Forensic Anthropology Examination in South Korea from 2017 to 2021. 2025; 38(3), 195-208.
Da Young Kim, Sang-Seob Lee, KIM YISUK, U Young Lee and Won-Joon Lee. "Survey and Recommendation of Forensic Anthropology Examination in South Korea from 2017 to 2021" Anatomy & Biological Anthropology 38, no.3 (2025) : 195-208.
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