DNA Key to Finding Missing Children
By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter
A recent reunion of a father and his missing son through DNA testing has underlined the importance of the construction of a more systematic DNA data base for the findings of lost children, analysts said Friday.
It showed that DNA testing, often the target of criticism by civic groups advocating human rights, is still one of the most effective ways of locating missing children.
A 50-year-old father, Kim Seung-ki, found his son who went missing eight years ago, according to police Thursday.
In April 2000, Kim, a street vendor near Dongdaemun Stadium in central Seoul, lost his son, who was four years old at that time. He combed through all facilities taking care of missing children to no avail and had to return to his hometown in South Jeolla Province.
After years of futile attempts, in June 2004, Kim sought help from the National Center for Missing Children, an organization under the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Family Affairs, and had his DNA sampled.
Earlier this year, the National Institute of Scientific Investigation reported to police that the DNA of a child staying at a child welfare center in western Seoul matched Kim's. Police found the boy and asked the institute to compare Kim's DNA with the child's, and the examination confirmed their relationship.
DNA Sampling Raises Chances
Police began to search for missing children by collecting DNA in 2004, as it is believed to be the most effective way of finding them. But human rights' groups expressed concerns over possible misuse of the gene data, so the National Assembly set up a law governing its use in May 2005.
``According to the law, police can sample DNA of children under 14 who are at welfare facilities after losing their parents. Police need the consent of their guardians, such as heads of the facilities. The law does not oblige all missing children to undergo the sampling, but most facilities ask police to collect DNA samples when a new child is admitted,'' Park Su-jeong, a staff member of the missing children center said.
According to the health ministry, 79 children have been reunited with their parents through DNA examination since 2004. Despite the effectiveness, however, not many parents have had their DNA collected and some do not even know such a system exists ― by May 2007, police had collected DNA of 16,900 people, both children and adults, who were at welfare centers, but only 840 people who lost family members had listed their DNA with the authority.
``Police could find Kim and the son relatively easily as their DNA samples were registered. DNA sampling will obviously help those who lost their children or other family members locate their beloved,'' an official of the Police Agency for Missing Children said.