The number of drug analysis cases by the National Forensic Service has increased 1.8 times in 5 years... Insufficient manpower expansion

(Daejeon = Yonhap News) Reporter Lee Joo-hyung = Over the past five years, the number of drug analysis cases requested by the National Forensic Service (National Forensic Service) has approximately doubled.

In a situation where the demand for analysis is rapidly increasing, the National Forensic Service's manpower is not sufficiently expanded, and the period for replying the results of the analysis is also increasing.

According to data submitted by the National Forensic Service on the 7th by Park Jeong-hyun, a member of the National Assembly Public Administration and Security Committee and the Democratic Party of Korea (Daedeok-gu, Daejeon), the number of requests for drug analysis increased from 77,480 in 2021 to 89,691 in 2022, 128,161 in 2023, 121,375 in 2024, and 141,285 last year. increased.

This number is 83,805 cases in 5 years, an increase of 1.82 times.

On the other hand, the number of appraisal personnel increased by only 8 from 42 to 50 during the same period.

The increase rate is 19%, which is less than a quarter of the increase rate in the number of appraisal requests.

Last year, there were a total of 50 drug inspectors, which was confirmed to be a number that did not even meet the quota (57) set by the National Forensic Service.

As the amount of appraisal volume increases and manpower remains stagnant, the time it takes to receive a response to the appraisal results is also lengthening.

The average response period for drug analysis requested by the police from the National Forensic Service increased from 6.5 days for urine, 18.6 days for hair, and 7.4 days for confiscated goods in 2022 to 9.2 days, 32.9 days, and 11.9 days, respectively, in 2025.

In particular, in the case of hair analysis, there were cases where it took up to 49 days to receive results.

Narcotic analysis is a procedure that analyzes urine, hair, and confiscated items obtained by investigative agencies such as the police to determine whether drugs have been used or possessed.

Regarding this, the National Forensic Service explained that it is having difficulty securing manpower due to poor treatment and compensation compared to the heavy workload, and that the number of analysis tasks is expected to increase further as drug driving crackdowns are implemented starting this year.

Representative Park said, “In order to strictly respond to drug crimes, the role of the National Forensic Service in quickly and accurately analyzing evidence obtained at the scene is very important.” He added, “As the issue of treatment of National Forensic Service personnel has been raised for a long time, this must be resolved so that cases can be handled in a timely manner.”