Exploring the quantity and type of evidence collected during criminal investigations in South Korea

Abstract

This article explores the patterns of 11 types of criminal evidence collected by a detective team in real-life 172 volume crime cases that occurred in South Korea. Electronic and paper case files were analyzed to examine the patterns of how much and which type of evidence was collected per case. The results show that, in general, the team collected almost four pieces of evidence per case, and notably, testimonial evidence (e.g., statements) was collected more often than physical evidence (e.g., video recordings, DNA, and fingerprints). Among the physical evidence types, video recording was the most available; victim statement was the most available of testimonial evidence types. Another finding was that more evidence was collected before than after interrogation. Overall, this study provides empirical insights into the current landscape of evidence collection practices in South Korean police investigations, with implications for both law enforcement procedures and academic research on criminal justice systems.