National Forensic Service Forensic Odontologist Kim I-ju, "A profession with only 7 people nationwide... My life is a meaningful one"

A forensic odontologist and a forensic investigator working at the National Forensic Service shared vivid stories from autopsy scenes and their sense of professional mission. In a video from the tvN entertainment program "You Quiz on the Block," forensic odontologist Kim I-ju, who finds the truth through teeth, and forensic investigator Kwak Yu-jin, who supports autopsies, appeared to reveal their work and daily lives.

A forensic odontologist, one of only 7 in the country, finding the final truth through teeth

As a dentist, forensic odontologist Kim I-ju performs tasks at the National Forensic Service such as identifying individuals or estimating age using teeth. In the video, Kim I-ju stated that she identifies individuals by comparing dental prosthetics or implant locations with dental records from when they were alive, and she performs evaluations when teeth are damaged due to falls or beatings. She mentioned that there are only 7 forensic odontologists in the entire country and said she chose this path to live a meaningful life as a dentist. She added that although she sometimes hears from her peers, "Are you going to go look for frog teeth for several years?", she feels pride and a sense of mission as one of the few specialists in the country.

The reality of the autopsy scene, "Bright lights and thorough protection, unlike in dramas"

Forensic investigator Kwak Yu-jin explained that during an autopsy, one medical examiner and three investigators move as one team, performing support tasks such as creating slides from blood and tissue specimens. In particular, she mentioned the differences between autopsy scenes in dramas and the actual field. In the video, the cast revealed that instead of using only a single spotlight in a dark place like in dramas, actual autopsy rooms are very bright, to the extent that fluorescent lights are even attached to the dissection table. Furthermore, she explained that it is a rule to wear thorough protective clothing, such as surgical scrubs, autopsy suits, boots, and three layers of gloves, to prevent infection and injury.

Facing death every day, "An opportunity to think about life differently"

The professional attitudes and lifestyle habits of those who face death every day were also revealed. Kim I-ju mentioned the nature of the work, which requires objective investigation rather than becoming immersed in emotions to reconstruct a case. Investigator Kwak Yu-jin said, "People think death is grand, but in reality, I see many cases where people die in very diverse and futile ways," adding that because she feels death is closer than expected, it makes her think she should live life even better. As an occupational habit, she cited "safety sensitivity," which involves checking the locations of emergency exits or fire extinguishers, and shared the realistic story that she showers several times a day to prevent the smell from clinging after an autopsy. Finally, she left advice for those wishing to join the National Forensic Service to consider the heavy administrative workload and realistic economic aspects.