형사재판상 과학적 증거의 기준과 국내 발전방향

The Standard of Admissibility of Forensic Evidence and Its Future Direction in Korea - Focusing on the recent reformation of Forensic Science in the United States -

As criminal investigation utilizing scientific theories and techniques continues to develop, criminal trials are more dependent on forensic evidence. This study applies the Daubert rule of the United States to the Korean criminal cases where forensic evidence is at issue and analyzes them to learn whether the Korean judiciary sets forth any specific and consistent standards for scientific evidence. This article: 1) introduces the failure of scientific evidence which led to a multitude of wrongful convictions in the United States: 2) discusses the problems that have rendered the Daubert rule ineffective, deemed a relatively consistent and reasonable standard to review the validity of scientific methods in everyday trials: 3) points to the need to establish research culture in Korea for the purpose of securing the accuracy and objectivity of forensic evidence. Especially, this paper stresses the experts' roles in setting forth the standard to test scientific validity and error rates, (and thus) boosting peer review, providing education programs and guidelines for lab analysts, and supplying courts with precise information on forensic evidence. For this purpose, this paper concludes that the government needs to fund and promote the Scientific Working Group (SWG) in Korea.