INTRODUCTION

Ministry of National Defense is the nation’s sanctuary

Step 3_Identification

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Preliminary identification

  • Visual examination such as gender, age on the remains at the field mortuary
    ※ Identification of friend or foe based on related battle history, circumstantial data and personal artifacts
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Remains conveyance/registration

  • Conveyed to the CIL, using a vehicle exclusively designed for remains conveyance
    ※ Enemy remains: Buried temporarily in a separate enemy cemetery in preparation of repatriation
  • Respective registration numbers are endowed to systematically manage the remains until repatriation
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Identification (CIL)

  • Conduct a forensic analysis, and identify the remains by utilizing state-of-art technology
    • Identify gender, age, race and personal traits of the remains
    • Employ precision identification equipment including 3D scanner, comparison spectroscope, dental x-ray, etc
  • Collect DNA samples to conduct DNA testing
  • Examine personal artifacts
    ※ Precision equipment such as comparison spectroscope and imagescope are employed to examine those artifacts which cannot be identified visually
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DNA comparison test

  • Collect DNA samples from the bereaved family members of those yet-to-be recovered KIA
    • DNA collecting location: Regional community health centers in Korea(253 centers), Military Hospitals(18 hospitals)
    • Sampling object(target): From immediate family members to third cousins of KIA
    • Sampling method: Saliva
  • DNA analysis (Agency for Defense Development, Specialized Civil Agencies)
    ※ Confirmation of family relationship through a comparative DNA analysis between the remains and the family members. (Establish Database)
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Temporary enshrinement

  • Preserved for a certain period of time until identified
    ※ Use of specialized container boxes to prevent the remains from further contamination